72 BRITISH FUNGI 



peculiarity of some species is the presence of latex in the stem, 

 which when broken near the base liberates drops of liquid or latex, 

 which is snow-white, rose-colour, or blood-red in different species. 

 The gills are adnexed, and in many species there is a distinct de- 

 current tooth running slightly down the stem. They are in some 

 instances entirely pure white, in another section white with a dis- 

 tinctly coloured edge or margin, whereas in another section the 

 gills are grey. In Mycena pcUanthina the gills are reddish and bristle 

 along the margin, and also on the sides, with very large purple 

 cystidia or large projecting cells, which can be seen very clearly 

 under a pocket lens, or still better under a microscope. Some 

 species possess a strong alkaline smell, somewhat resembling 

 ammonia, especially when crushed. The spores of many species 

 possess the same amount of refrangibility as water, hence they 

 cannot be distinctly seen when examined in water under the micro- 

 scope, and althougli the spores are elliptical in outline, they have 

 been frequently described as globose, due to the fact that a large 

 globose oil globule is distinctly visible, wliereas the true outline 

 of the spore is almost invisible. The addition of a little tincture of 

 iodine or other stain shows up the true shape of the spores. 



The genus Mycena is perhaps most closely related to Collyhia, 

 \\'hich differs in having the edge of the cap incur\'ed in the 3^oung 

 state, whereas in Mycena the edge of the cap is straight and pressed 

 to the stem in the young condition. Again, species of Mycena are as 

 remarkable for being brittle as species of Collyhia are for being tough 

 and pliant. Omplialia and Clitocyhe are distinguished from Mycena 

 by having decurrent gills. 



Many kinds of Mycena spring up among short grass on lawns, 

 in pastures, woods, etc. Others grow on fallen branches or on 

 stumps ; some of the smallest species grow on the bark of living 

 trees, more especially when the trunk is more or less covered with 

 moss. 



Collyhia 



Here again we have a considerable number of British species to 

 deal with, and, as distinguished from allies, tlie principal features 

 to be observed are the comparatively tough consistency of the 

 entire fungus, the incurved edge of the cap in the young stage, 

 the absence of fluting or striation on the cap, and the polished or 

 cartilaginous stem. The genus Marasmins is undoubtedly most 

 closely allied to Collyhia — in fact, several species often find a tem- 

 porary resting-place first in one genus, then in tlie other, depending 

 on the view taken by a particular autlior. Broadly speaking, 

 Marasmins differs from Collyhia in the dry, leathery consistency 

 of the entire fungus, which is some\\-hat persistent, and revives 

 readily when moistened after being dried ; whereas in Collyhia 

 the entire fungus quickly decays after reaching maturity and 

 shedding its spores. 



