226 BRITISH FUNGI 



papillate, that is, in having a small, wart-like, more or less acute 

 umbo, and in the edge of the cap being straight and pressed to the 

 stem when young, and not incurved, as in Lcptonia. The species 

 are small, and mostly occur in pastures and open places. Agreeing 

 in structure with Mycena in the Leucosporea?, with Galera in the 

 Ochrosporeai, and with Psatliyra and PsatJiyrdla in the IMelano- 

 sporea^. 



Leptonia 



Mostly small, slender fungi, most abundant in open pastures after 

 much rain ; some grow in swampy places, and one of the most 

 beautiful species, L. eitchroa, grows on wood. Many of the species 

 are brightly coloured, clear blue, purple and green being most 

 prevalent. The genus agrees structurally with CoUyhia in the 

 Leucosporeffi. 



Clitopilus 



In the most typical forms the plant is fairly large-sized, the cap 

 somewhat fleshy, and the gills deeply decurrent. From this con- 

 dition there is a gradual transition to the smaller species, where 

 the whole fungus is slender, flesh of cap thin, and the gills only just 

 decurrent. ]\Iany of the species are white or pale-coloured. Agree- 

 ing in structure with Clitocyhe in the Leucosporeae. 



ECCILIA 



All the species are small, and somewhat rare. Differing from 

 Clitopilus in having a cartilaginous stem. Corresponding in struc- 

 ture with Omphalia in the Leucosporeae. 



Claudopus 

 Minute, membranaceous fungi, either sessile and having the gills 

 uppermost, or with a minute, more or less excentrically placed stem. 

 Mostly growing on wood. Agreeing in structure with the simpler, 

 minute species of Pleurotus in the Leucosporeae, with which they 

 are often confounded, unless attention is paid to the gills being 

 slightly tinged pink. 



VOLVARIA 



The entire fungus, when young, enclosed in a universal veil, 

 which, after expansion of the cap, forms a loose volva, ensheathing 

 the base of the stem. Cap regular ; gills free, pale salmon-colour ; 

 stem central, ring absent. 



Distinguished among pink-spored genera by the free gills, presence 

 of a volva, and absence of a ring on the stem. 



* Cap dry, silky or fihrillose. 



V. homhycina. — Cap 4-8 in. across, becoming convex and some- 

 what umbonate, silky, whitish ; gills closely crowded, broad, 

 becoming pale flesh-colour ; stem 3-6 in. long, stout, white, volva 

 large, torn, lax, somewhat viscid, whitish. 



On trunks. Solitary or tufted. 



