FIELD BOOK OF COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS 



The genus Hebeloma 



Mushrooms belonging to the genus Hebeloma have clay- 

 colored spores but are classed among the rusty spored genera. 

 Their gills extend to the stem but are not attached to it and 

 they are sometimes notched. Their edge is usually whitish 

 and their surface is clay-colored. The veil is seen only in the 

 young stage and then is delicate and composed of fine fibres. 



The stem is fleshy and fibrous and is somewhat mealy at 

 its top, and is not easily detached from the cap. The margin 

 of the cap is turned downward and inward in young specimens 

 and the surface is smooth and slightly sticky when moist. 



Most of the species of Hebeloma grow on the ground in the 

 autumn and some of them are considered to be poisonous. 



Species of Hebeloma 

 Hebeloma precox; early hebeloma. Plate IX, Species 56. 



On ground; in groups; June; POISONOUS (?). 



Cap convex when young, expanded when mature; slight 

 elevation at center (umbonate); surface smooth; dry; margin 

 incurved; tawny-rusty color; flesh white, taste sweet (Eat 

 not) ; odor pleasant ; i >^ to 2 inches broad. 



Gills close together; arched, notched near the stem; pallid 

 when young; tawny (fulvous) when mature. 



Stem fleshy; brittle; stuffed or hollow; cream-colored; i to 2 

 inches long. 



Spores ovoid; smooth; pale rusty; 5-6 x 3-4 microns in 

 diameter. 



Specimens of this uncommon plant were collected and 

 named by Dr. Murrill. Writing of it in Mycologia, July, 

 191 1, he says: "This is the first species of Hebeloma to appear 

 in this locality. Although not at all (sticky) viscid when 

 found, it might well become slightly so in wet weather. The 

 remnants of the partial (inner) veil are left clinging to the 



186 



