MARASMIUS. 157 



with a tinge of pink, generally lying obliquely one over 

 another. Fairy -rings are often ^observed to be formed by/ 

 this plant. (Grev.) 



Gregarious. Pileus ^-1 in. broad, smooth, fleshy, convex, 

 at length nearly plane, more or less umbonate, generally 

 more or less compressed and sinuate, tough, coriaceous,, 

 elastic, wrinkled and sometimes cracked, watery brown, as- 

 it becomes dry cream-coloured ; margin pale. Flesh white,, 

 quite distinct from that of the stem. Gills free, pale, 

 distant, slightly ventricose. Stem 1-2 in. high, 2-3 lines- 

 thick, equal, solid, very tough, composed of fibres splitting 

 longitudinally, the outer coat squamuloso-fibrous, base 

 downy, somewhat rooting and attached to the roots of the 

 grass. Taste and odour strong but agreeable. Though 

 tough, much used, as an article of food on the continent and 

 occasionally in this country, but too frequently very different 

 and poisonous fungi are gathered under the name. (Berk.) 



Marasmius plancus. Fr. 



Pileus f-1^ in. across, flesh rather thin, pliant, white ; 

 convex, soon plane then more or less depressed, somewhat 

 wavy, obtuse, even, rufescent, becoming pale ; gills slightly 

 adnexed, soon separating from the stem and free, distant, 

 1 line broad, linear, pale dingy ochraceous-brown ; stem 

 about 1| in. long, hollow, tough, soon compressed, pallid, and 

 covered "with white down, base somewhat attenuated, naked. 



Marasmius plancus, Fries, Epicr., p. 375 ; Cke., Hdbk., 

 p. 345 ; Cke., Illustr., pi. 1119A, 



In woods. 



Allied to M. oreades, but differing in the narrower, darker- 

 coloured gills, and in growing in woods or shady places^ 

 Taste sweet. 



Marasmius scorteus. Fr. 



Pilens about | in. across, flesh thin, tough ; convex then 

 expanded, obtuse, not striate but becoming wrinkled, whitish 

 or pallid and becoming pale ; gills free and rounded behind,. 

 1 line broad, distant, white ; stem 1-1| in. long, hardly 1 

 line thick, equal, tough, white with a tinge of brown, apex_ 

 very slightly pruinose, otherwise glabrous, indistinctly 

 fistulose ; spores elliptical, 8 X 6 /*. 



