Clitopilus AGARIC ACE^ 



XVI. CLITOPILUS Qudl. 



(From the decurrent hymenophore ; Gr. klitos, a declivity, 

 piles, a cap.) 



Veil indicated by silkiness and flock. Hymenophore confluent and 

 homogeneous with the fleshy stem. Pileus more or less depressed 

 or umbilicate, margin at first involute. Stem central, simple, fleshy 



Fig. 25. Sections of Clitopilus frunulus Quel. 

 One-half natural size. 



or fibrous. Gills decurrent, white, except 506, then salmon. Spores 

 smooth or warted, salmon, sometimes very pale. (Fig. 25.) 



All the species grow on the ground. They have a more or less 

 mealy odour. Some are tasteless, others edible. 



Clitopihts agrees in structure with Clitocybe and in part with 

 Flammula. Species 503 513 



a. Orcella. Pileus irregular, somewhat excentric, flexuous, 



somewhat hygrophanous, margin at first flocculose. Gills 

 deeply decurrent. 503 509 



b. Sericella. Pileus regular, silky or hygrophanous-silky, margin 



involute, naked. Gills adnate, slightly decurrent. 510 513 



a. Orcellce. 



503. C. prunulus Quel. (from the pruinose appearance of the pileus) 



a b c. 

 P. plane or convex, broadly subumbonate ; when young faintly 



grey, then whitish. St. solid, frequently central, paler than P. 



G. subdistant, flesh-colour. 

 Edible. Odour strong of new meal, or like 1527. Woods and open 



places ; common. June-Oct. 3j X 2| X } in. This and 504 are not 



insect eaten. 



504. P. oreella Que'l. (from the old Italian popular name ; orgella, 



like an ear) a b c. 

 P. piano-depressed, lobed, undulate, white. St. solid, flocculose, 



often excentric, colour as P. G. crowded, whitish flesh-colour. 

 In troops. Edible. Odour as in 503 or of Syringa leaf or cucumber, or fresh 



meal and cucumber. Open grassy places, sometimes in rings 20 feet in 



diam. ; frequent. June-Oct. 4 X X i in. Intermediate forms occur 



between this and 503. 



