LEUCOSPORI. 73 



A very pretty species, densely gregarious, inodorous. The stem is sheathed- Clitocybe. 

 hairy at the base like Marasmius peronatus. Its greatest affinity is with A. 

 vernicosus, of which it is perhaps a variety. 



Among fir-leaves. Downton, Hereford, 1876. Oct. 



Name socius, a companion. From its gregarious habit. Fr. Hym. Eur. 

 p. 83. Icon. t. 49.7. 2, descr. B. & Br. n. 1637. C. Illust. PI. 134. B. 



*** Pileus becoming yellow. 



140. A. amarella Pers. Pileus pale-yellowish or pallid 

 fawn-colour, fleshy, plane, firm, somewhat umbonate, smooth. 

 Stem 5 cent. (2 in.) long, 4 mm. (2 lin.) thick, solid, compact, 

 tough, equal, white-villous at the base. Gills somewhat decur- 

 rent, crowded, pallid, somewhat shining, here and there dichoto- 

 mous. 



Odour strong; taste very bitter. The gills are paler than the pileus, some- 

 what grey. 



In woods. Coed Coch, 1876. Oct. 



Smell that of prussic acid. B. & Br. Name diminutive, amarus, bitter. 

 Bitterish. Pers. Myc. Eur. p. 99. Fr. Hym. Eur. p. 84. B. 6* Br. n. 

 1683. 



141. A. vernicosus Fr. Pileus about 5 cent. (2 in.) broad, 

 shining pale-yellowish, fleshy, convex then flattened or piano- 

 depressed, obtuse, even, smooth, involute at the margin ; flesh 

 firm, whitish. Stem 2.5-4 cent. (i-i^ in.) long, about 6 mm. (3 

 lin.) thick, stuffed, firm, tough, equal, even, smooth, yellow. Gills 

 adnato-decurrent, equally attenuated behind, somewhat distant, 

 light yellow. 



Odour none. It can only be compared with A. (Trich.} cerinus, but it is 

 very easily distinguished by its shining pileus, smooth stem, and especially 

 gills, which are truly decurrent (not sinuate), and not crowded. B. pileus 

 somewhat infundibuliform, and hence the gills deeply decurrent. A. flavidus 

 Sow. t. 366. 



In fir wood. Rare. 



Name vernis, varnish. From its shining appearance. Fr. Monogr. i. 

 p. 105. Hym. Eur. p. 84. Icon. t. 50. /. i. Berk. Out. p. 108. C. Hbk. 

 n. 83. Illust. PL 765 after Sow. 



142. A. venustissimus Fr.~ Pileus 2.5-5 cent - O- 2 in -) broad, 

 splendid orange-reddish, but becoming pale, slightly fleshy, convex 

 then expanded, obtuse or somewhat umbilicate, becoming slightly 

 silky-even, sometimes even at the margin, sometimes (always when 

 larger) striate and remarkably crenate or toothed in a crisped 

 manner; flesh of the same colour. Stem 4 cent. (i% in.) long, 



