84 PSALIOTA 



187. P. arvensis (Schaeff.) Fr. Holland, Champ, t. 71, no. 159. 



Arvensis, belonging to cultivated fields. 



P. 7-20 cm., whitish, becoming stained with yellow, fleshy, globoso- 

 campanulate, then flattened, obtuse, flocculoso-mealy when young, then 

 slightly silky even or squamulose, dry. St. 7-12 x 2-5-3 cm., white, 

 often stained with yellow, thickened at the base, obsoletely marginato- 

 bulbous when young, villose. Ring white, superior, large, pendulous, 

 formed as it were of two growing together, the interior one membrana- 

 ceous, uniform, the exterior one thicker and shorter, somewhat free at the 

 circumference, often appendiculate at the margin of the p., radiately 

 split. Gills white, at length reddish fuscous, free, approximate, ventri- 

 cose, broader in front, always arid. Flesh white, or tinged with yellow, 

 compact, firm, juicy, at length softer. Spores brownish purple, 

 elliptical, 810 x 5 6 /A. Smell pleasant, often like new meal. Taste 

 mild. Edible. Often forming large rings. Pastures, and woods. 

 May Dec. Common, (v.v.) 



var. purpurascens Cke. Cke. Illus. no. 541, t. 584. 



Purpurascens, becoming purple. 



Differs from the type in its smaller size and in the p. becoming tinged 

 with purple. Spores reddish brown, broadly elliptical, 4-5 x Sp, 1- 

 guttulate. Woods, pastures and under trees. July Oct. Uncommon. 

 (v.v.) 



var. albosquamosa W. G. Sm. Field and cultivated mushrooms, fig. 8. 



Albus, white; squamosa, scaly. 



Differs from the type in the snow-white patches on the fawn- 

 coloured p. the remains of the universal veil. Artificially made 

 mushroom beds. Not uncommon. 



var. vaporaria (Otto) W. G. Sm. (= Psaliota campestris (Linn.) Fr. 



var. vaporaria (Otto) Fr.) Vaporaria, of hothouses. 



Differs from the type in the smooth, pilose brown p., and the white St., 



reddish at the apex, and brownish, or reddish at the base. A cultivated 



form in mushroom beds. Common, (v.v.) 



var. hortensis (Cke.) W. G. Sm. (= Psaliota campestris (Linn.) Fr. 

 var. hortensis Cke.) Cke. Illus. no. 545, t. 527, as Psaliota cam- 

 pestris Linn. var. hortensis. Hortensis, of gardens. 

 Differs from the type in the fibrillose, or squamulose brownish p. 

 Artificially made mushroom beds. Common, (v.v.) 



var. Buchananii (Berk.) W. G. Sm. (= Psaliota campestris (Linn.) Fr. 

 var. Buchanani Berk.) Field and cultivated mushrooms, fig. 10. 



Buchanan, a gardener. 



Differs from the type in the white, opaque, nearly smooth, depressed 

 p. Artificially made mushroom beds. 



