CLASSIFICATION 227 



This fungus sometimes grows to a large size. I once gathered a 

 specimen growing on an old elm tree in Kew Gardens, measuring 

 and weighing as follows. Cap 14 in. across when expanded, stem 

 8 in. long by 2 in. in thickness, gills il in. broad. Weight 2| pounds. 

 The spores of this specimen were quite the normal size. 



V. volvacea (PI. XV, fig. 2), — Cap 2-3 in. across, soon expanded, 

 greyish yellow and streaked with blackish fibrils ; gills pale flesh- 

 colour ; stem 2-4 in. long, almost equal in thickness, white, volva 

 large, loose. 



Cap sometimes grey, but always streaked. 



On the ground, also in conservatories. 



V. loveiana. — Cap 2-3! in. across, convex, silky, white ; gills 

 pinkish salmon-colour ; stem narrowed upwards, bulbous, white, 

 volva lobed, whitish. 



Growing on the cap of distorted and decaying specimens of the 

 fungus called Clitocybc nebularis. 



V. taylori. — Cap 1^-2-2- in. across, soon expanded, livid, edge 

 whitish, usually striately cracked ; gills broad, pale salmon-colour ; 

 stem about 2 in. long, smooth, whitish, volva lobed, brown outside. 



Somewhat resembling V. volvacea ; differing in the paler cap, gills 

 much narrowed behind, and the small brown volva. 



On the ground. 



** Cap more or less viscid, smooth. 



V. speciosa. — Cap 3-5 in. across, obtuse or slightly umbonate, 

 even, viscid, disc grey or entirely whitish ; gills crowded, narrowed 

 behind, pale salmon-colour ; stem 5-8 in. long, base swollen, 

 narrowed upwards, white, downy, volva downy, white, edge ir- 

 regular. 



Disc of cap sometimes brownish. Known by the whitish, viscid 

 cap, and downy stem and volva. 



On dunghills and on the ground. 



V. gloiocephala. — Cap 3-5 in. across, soon almost plane, umbonate, 

 smooth, glutinous, smoky grey ; gills broad, pale salmon-colour ; 

 stem 4-6 in. long, whitish, then tinged brown, volva whitish, extreme 

 edge only free. 



Known by the smoke-coloured, glutinous cap. 



On the ground. 



V. parvula. — Cap |-i in. across, becoming plane and umbonate, 

 silky, white, umbo often tinged with colour ; gills crowded, clear 

 pale flesh-colour; stem i-ih in. long, silky, white, volva small, 

 edge free and divided into 2-4 lobes. 



In gardens and greenhouses. Gregarious. 



V. media. — Cap 1-2 in. across, soon plane, obtuse, or somewhat 

 umbonate, viscid, white, disc usuafly tinged brown ; gills pale 

 salmon-colour ; stem 2-3 in. long, smooth, white, volva tinged 

 brown, edge lobed. 



