48 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



umbo in the center. The cap becomes expanded with age, until 

 it is somewhat flattened. It is covered with a dense coat of fine 

 fibrils. The flesh is thin, and of a similar color to the surface of 

 the cap. The somewhat crowded gills are joined squarely to the 

 stem. They are yellow at first, but are dark red at maturity. The 

 stem is from two to four inches long, and about one-half inch in 

 diameter, equal throughout, and is hollow, and colored like 

 the cap. 



Other species Hsted as edible are C. collinitus (Pers.) Fr., a 

 plant yellow-brown in color, abimdantly smeared over with a 

 glutinous substance, especially in moist weather; and C. armil- 

 latus Fr., characterized by a distinct ring on the stem ; both of 

 which were found frequently in Mansfield during the season 

 of 1906. 



PHOLIOTA Fr. 



The plants of this genus are similar to Cortinarins in the 

 color of the spores. They also have the veil, but, unlike the 

 spider-web veil of Cortinarius, this is thick and persistent. In 

 the character of the ring they are similar to Armillarm, of the 

 white-spored group. They are, however, quite distinct in other 

 characters. Many of the Pholiotas grow on the trunks of trees. 

 Frequently fungi having this habitat possess a peculiar bitter 

 flavor. The Pholiotas are no exception to the rule, and, while 

 some wood-growing species are delicious, others are too bitter 

 to be eaten. 



Pholiota praecox Pers. is one of the first edible mushrooms 

 of the spring months. The writer has found it abundantly 

 growing on lawns during the month of May. It continues 

 abundant throughout the season. The cap is convex, white or 

 cream-colored, becoming yellow with age. During wet weather 

 the surface of the cap is slightly sticky, but when dry this 

 character quickly disappears. The margin of the cap is at first 

 inrolled and connected with the stem by a rather thick veil. This 

 ruptures as the cap expands. The cap is seldom over two inches 

 in diameter. The stem is long and slender, stuffed when young, 

 but becomes hollow with age. The crowded gills are squarely 

 attached to the stem, sometimes slightly extending down it 

 (decurrent). They are white at first, then become yellow. The 

 plants are small and delicate but usually occur abundantly. 



