346 MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



Bolbitius. I'r. 



Bolbitius is from a Greek word meaning cow-dung, referring to its place of 

 growth. 



The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, becoming moist ; gills moist but not 

 deliquescing, finally losing their color and becoming powdery; stem hollow and 

 confluent with the hymenophore. As the generic name implies the plant usually 

 grows on dung, but sometimes it is found growing on leaves and where the ground 

 had been manured the year before. The spores are of a rusty-red color. 



Bolbitius fragilis. (L.) Fr. 



Fragilis means fragile. 



The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, then whitish, viscid, margin striate, 

 disk somewhat umbonate. 



The gills are attenuated, adnexed. nearly free, ventricose, yellowish, then pale 

 cinnamon. 



The stem is two to three inches long, naked, smooth, yellow. The spores are 

 rust-colored, 7x3.5, Massee. 14-15X8-9/X. Saccardo. 



This species is much more delicate and fragile than B. Boltoni. I find it often 

 in dairy pastures. It is well flavored and cooks readily. Found from June to 

 October. 



Bolbitius Boltoui. Fr. 

 Bolton's Bolbitius. Edible. 



The pileus is somewhat fleshy, viscid, at first smooth, then the margin sulcate, 

 disk darker and slightly depressed. 



The gills are nearly adnate, yellowish, then livid-brown. 



The stem is attenuated, yellowish, ring fugacious. This is rather common in 

 dairy pastures and is found from May to September. 



Psathyrella. I'r. 



Psathyrella is from a Creek word meaning fragile. The members of this 

 genus are mebranaceous, striated, margin straight, at first pressed t<> the stem, not 

 extending beyond the gills, ('.ills adnate or free, sooty-black, not varigated. The 

 stem is confluent with, but different in character from, the sp ire-bearing surface. 

 Veil inconspicuous and generally absent. 



