FIELD BOOK OF COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS 



The genus Pluteus 



Mushrooms of the genus Pluteus have pink spores. They 

 resemble the white-spored Lepiotas but have no ring upon 

 the stem. Neither have the Plutei a sheath or cup (volva) 

 enveloping the base of the stem. They are the only 

 pink-spored mushrooms whose gills are free from the stem. 

 The stem can be detached rather easily from the cap. 

 The gills turn pink or flesh colored as the plant grows 

 older. 



Species of Pluteus 

 Pluteus admirabilis. Species 109. No illustration. 



In woods on decaying wood; common in hilly districts; 

 July to September; edible. 



Cap thin; convex or expanded; usually with a broad eleva- 

 tion at the center (umbonate); with a network of folds or 

 furrows; radiate markings at the margin (striate); yellow or 

 brown; >^ to i inch broad. 



Gills near together; broad; rounded at the stem end; 

 whitish or yellowish when young, flesh-colored when old. 



Stem slender; hollow; cylindrical or slightly thickened at 

 the base; yellow or yellowish- white with white down at the 

 base. 



Spores pink; 6.5-8 microns in diameter. 



Small young specimens sometimes have the stem solid. 

 This character, with its small size, distinguishes it from 

 Pluteus leoninus. Peck. 



Pluteus cervinus; fawn-colored pluteus. Plate XIV. 

 Species iio. 



On wood and about stumps in woods; solitary or in sparse 

 groups; edible; May to October. 

 242 



