CLASSIFICATION 213 



Known amongst the small species of Pleurotus by the smooth cap. 

 Closely resembles Claitdopus variabilis, one of the pink-spored 

 species, but the gills remain permanently white. 



On moss, fallen leaves, etc. 



P. chioneus. — Cap very thin, partly resupinate, snow-white, 

 downy, 2-3 lines across ; stem lateral, very short, downy, at 

 length almost disappearing ; gills radiating from an excentric 

 point, rather broad, with intermediate shorter ones, pure 

 white. 



Somewhat resembling P. septicus, but smaller, with a less distinct 

 stem, and the flesh of the cap much thinner. Differs from P. 

 hypnophilus by the villose or downy cap. 



On wood, dung, leaves, etc. 



Cantharellus 



Cap regular, excentric or variously lobed, fleshy or membrana- 

 ceous ; gills more or less decurrent, thick, rather waxy, narrow, 

 edge blunt ; stem central, lateral or absent ; spores white. 



A very variable yet readily recognized genus, most closely 

 resembling Craterellus, which differs in the absence of true gills. 

 The most marked feature are the blunt, fold-like gills, which are 

 decurrent, forked, straight, and rarely anastomosing. 



* Cap entire ; stem central. 



C. ciharius. — Every part of the fungus opaque yellowish buff. 

 Cap very fleshy, irregular and wavy, at length broadly gibbous or 

 turbinate, i|-3 in. across; gills decurrent, quite narrow, thick, 

 distant ; stem stout, gradually expanding into the cap, solid, 1-2 in. 

 long. 



Deep yellowish buff, sometimes paler, at others almost yolk-of-egg- 

 colour. Smell very agreeable when dried, like that of apricots, 

 scarcely appreciable when fresh. Taste rather pungent. Edible. 

 The gills are like thick veins, frequently forking. 



In woods. Common. 



C. friesii. — Cap rather thin, convex, then more or less depressed, 

 downy, pale opaque buff-orange, |-i| in. across ; gills decurrent, 

 thickish, narrow, forked, colour of the cap or paler ; stem solid, 

 expanding upwards into the cap, paler than the cap, base whitish, 

 about I in. long. 



Intermediate between C. cibarius and C. aurantiactis, with the 

 gills of the former and the habit of the latter. 



In woods. Rare. 



C. aurantiacus. — Cap rather thin and more or less depressed and 

 wavy, soft and rather downy, dingy opaque orange, sometimes 

 paler, 1-2 in. across ; gills decurrent, crowded, thin, forked, 

 brighter orange than the cap ; stem slightly thickened upwards, 

 coloured like the cap, base often darker, up to i in. long. 



