SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 



19 



CI.ITOrYHK MlLTICraVS. M A.N V-UKADKI) (I.ITOCYIiK. (EDIBLE) 

 (KiK. 17) 



In this species tlu> cap is convex, fleshy, firm, thin except on the disk, sliu'htly 

 moLst in wot weather, whitish, grayish, or yellowish ^'ray, in yonni? plants 

 sometimes (piiti' brown ; the flesh is white, taste mild; the irills are white, close, 

 adnate or somewhat decurrent ; the stem is equal or little thickened, solid or 

 stuffed, elastic. Arm. somewhat pruinose at the apex. 



The cap is 1 to 3 inches broad; the stem is 2 to 4 inches long. 



This sjiocies is subject to great variation in size, color, shape of gills, texture, 

 and taste. Sometimes the gills are very slightly sinuate, reminding one of the 

 genus Tricholoma. 



Clifocjilie miilticcps appears abundantly in the spring and autumn, growing 

 in dense clusters often hidden by the grass or stubble. It is edible and by many 

 consi(lere<l very good. 



I'"ioi"RE 18. — Clitijci/bc (jcluojiui ijurca 



CLITOCYBE OCHROPL-RPUREA. PURPLE-aiLLia) CLITOCYBB 



(Fig. 18) 



In this species the cap is subhemispherical to flat, in age upturned and 

 irregular, pale yellow or yellowish tan, slightly changing to purple, smooth or 

 somewhat hairy ; the gills are adnate or decurrent, thick, broader behind, 

 purple; the stem is soli<l, equal or swollen in center, conspicuously fibrous, 

 paler in color than the pileus. 



The cap is 2 to 4 inches broad ; the stem is 2V-; to 5 inches long. 



Clitoci/he ochro/iurpurea is to be found solitary or in small associations in 

 grassy places and open woods, mixed or coniferous. It is coarse in appearance 

 and sometimes attains a height of (i inches. The decided puri)le of the gills 

 makes it at first difficult for the amateur to recognize this species as belonging 

 to the white-spored group, but a spore priut will show the spores to be white 

 or slightly cream. 



