Agaricacese 



Marasmius. white villous down. Grills adnexed, then separating, free, moderately 

 thin, and crowded, when young whitish, pallid wood-color, at length 

 somewhat remote, reddish. 



B. Woolly sheathed at the base. Taste acrid like that of M. urens, 

 odor none. Fries. 



In woods. Common. Stevenson. 



Spores pip-shaped, 7x4^ W.G.S.; 10x6-7 >t Massee, 



New York. Thin woods. North Elba. August. September. Peck, 

 42d Rep. ; West Virginia, June to December, West Philadelphia and 

 Mt. Gretna, Chester county, Pa. Mcllvaine. 



M. peronatus is the wood-cousin of M. oreades. It is still reputed 

 poisonous by all writers upon the subject, though M. C. Cooke gives it 

 the benefit of a doubt. The name is given because of the base of the 

 stem being densely covered with short hairs or a woolly down, and is 

 thus easily recognized. It is common in woods, among decaying 

 leaves, especially of the oak, from May until after frosts. It is usually 

 solitary, but a few individuals are sometimes clustered. It is quite 

 peppery to the taste, but pleasantly so. I have repeatedly eaten it, 

 as have my friends. It loses its acridity in cooking, and though the 

 caps are tougher than M. oreades, they make a highly flavored and 

 delicious dish. Collectors should carefully test it for themselves. 



** Stem naked at the base, etc. 



M. ore'ades Fr. Gr. mountain-nymphs. Scotch bonnet. Cham- 

 pignon. Mousseron. (Plate LI, p. 221.) Pileus 1-2 in. broad, 

 reddish then becoming pale, absorbing moisture, whitish when dry, 

 fleshy, pliant, convex then plane, somewhat umbonate, even, smooth, 

 slightly striate at the margin when moist. Stem 2-3 in. long, i % lines 

 thick, solid, very tough, equal, tense and straight, everywhere clothed 

 with a villons-woven cuticle which can be rubbed off, pallid ; bluntly 

 rooted at the base, naked, not villous or tomentose. Gills free, broad, 

 distant, the alternate ones shorter, at first soft, then firmer, pallid- 

 white. 



Odor weak, but pleasant, stronger when dried, taste mild. Commonly 

 growing in circles or rows. Fries. 



Spores 6-7x5-6/x K.; elliptical, 8x5/x Massee; nearly elliptical, white, 

 7.6-9/u. long Peck. 



Common throughout the states during the summer months after rains, 



224 



