PLEUROTUS. 379 



On wood, branches, twigs, decaying fungi, dung, &c. 



Small, but very variable in form. Superficially resem- 

 bling Clandopus variabilis, but the gills are persistently 

 white, as are also the spores. 



Distinguished from the other small white species of Pleu- 

 rotus by the thicker flesh of the piletis, and more evident 

 stem, and by the gills being at first uppermost, and then 

 turned over. 



** Pileus fleshy, striate, upper layer gelatinous. 



Pleurotus mastrucatus. Fr. 



Pileus up to 2 in. long and 1 in. broad, sessile, at first re- 

 supinate then expanded and horizontal, often lobed, upper 

 stratum of pileus gelatinous, brown, bristling with squar- 

 rose or erect squamules ; flesh thickish ; gills radiating 

 from the point of attachment, broad, rather distant, greyish 

 white. 



Agaricus (Pleurotus) mastrucatus, Fries, Syst. Myc., i. p. 

 190 ; Cke., Hdbk., p. 109 ; Cke., Illustr., pi. 243A. 



On old trunks. 



Imbricated. Readily distinguished by the brown, squar- 

 rosely scaly pilous. 



Pleurotus atrocceruleus. Fr. 



Pileus 1-2 in. long, up to 1 in. broad, at first resupinate, 

 soon distinctly reflexed and horizontal, obovate or reniform, 

 downy, rarely almost glabrous, rngnlose when dry due to 

 contraction of the cuticle, usually blackish-blue, rarely fus- 

 cous ; flesh soft, superior stratum (pellicle) slightly gelati- 

 nous, up to 2 lines thick, blackish -brown ; lower layer, or 

 flesh proper, thin and whitish ; gills at first radiating from a 

 point, then converging towards the base, broad, whitish, at 

 length tinged with yellow; spores 7-8 X 5 /z. 



Agaricus (Pleurotus) atrocoeruleus, Fries, Epicr., p. 137 ; 

 Cke., Illustr., pi. 243u. 



On rotten trunks of beech and poplar, in densely shaded 

 places. 



Sessile, gregarious, somewhat imbricated. Smell very 

 pleasant. (Fries.) 



