Agaricaceae 



COLLY'BIA Fr. 



Gr. a small coin. 



CoUybia. PileilS fleshy, usually thin, margin incurved at first, not corrugated. 

 Stem different in substance from the pileus, but confluent with it; hol- 

 low, with a cartilaginous bark, internally cartilaginous or soft, often 

 rooting. Gills free or obtusely adnexed, membranaceous, soft. 



Growing on the ground, wood, leaves and decaying fungi. 



In Clitocybe and Tricholoma the substance of the stem and pileus is 

 alike; they differ in the character of the stem. Tricholoma has no 

 distinct bark-like coat, and in Clitocybe the stem is covered with mi- 

 nute fibers. In Mycena as in Collybia the stem is different in substance 

 from the pileus, but is distinguished by the margin of the pileus being 

 straight. It is most closely allied to Marasmius, which is characterized 

 by its tough coriaceous substance, which when dried fully revives and 

 expands on being moistened. The line between them can not always 

 be closely drawn, and there are numerous species which it is difficult to 

 place with certainty in either genus. This does not apply to the fleshy 

 edible species of this genus as they are quite distinct from Marasmius. 



Peck's 49th Report contains a monograph of the New York species 

 of Collybia, supplemented by one of those found in other states. 



Several common, prolific, long-season, delicious fungi occur in this 

 genus. They vary in size from " a small coin " to five inches across. 

 They grow in woods, on wood, on ground, on leaves, on lawns and 

 among moss and grass in shaded places. The writer has tested many 

 species raw, and eaten small quantities cooked, which are not herein 

 described for the reason that not enough of a species was found to test 

 to full extent. So far as is reported and as his experience goes, there is 

 not a poisonous species in Collybia. Many of them are strong in odor. 



ANALYSIS OF TRIBES. 

 Series A. GILLS WHITE OR BRIGHTLY COLORED, NOT GRAY. FLESH WHITE. 



STRlyEPEDES (striate-stemmed ). Page 113. 



Stem stout, hollow or imperfectly filled with a spongy pith ; grooved 

 or striate with fibers. 



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