114 



cit. 4: 95. //. /^/) and H. flavidinn {op. cit. ^•. 99. //. 31S). 

 This distinction did not meet with the approval of the European 

 mycologists and was soon forgotten. It could not be expected 

 that a specific distinction could be maintained simply on a shade 

 of color. Nevertheless, with more refined means of discrimina- 

 tion it is possible that Schaeffer's species may yet be established 

 on more solid foundations. In 1799 Persoon * attempted to 

 separate a species which he unfortunately called rufescciis, a name, 

 as we have seen, preoccupied b}' Schaeffer. This species was 

 established on better characters than that of Schaeffer and has 

 persistently perplexed systematists with its claims to recognition. 

 It has repeatedly been treated as a species or as a variety, or has 

 been reduced to synonymy, by different European botanists, and 

 even the same author has frequentl}' shown his perplexity in the 

 varying treatment he has given it in different editions of his 

 works. It is to be noted, however, that European authors agree 

 in ascribing to H. nifcsccns Pers. not only a darker, more reddish 

 color, but a thinner habit and smaller size than to the typical H. 

 repandiDii L. In this respect the European plants stand some- 

 what in contrast with the American forms, for with us the larger, 

 more stockily built plant is dark reddish buff, while the smaller, 

 thinner plant is pale buff ^ [There is with us a still smaller plant 

 not exceeding 4 cm. in width of pileus which is reddish buff in 

 color, but it is doubtful if this is the same as the European plant 

 referred to H. riifcscens Pers. While there is thus some difficulty 

 in fully identifying the American plants with their European con- 

 geners wc find that they are involved in the same perplexing 

 variability that seems to baffle all attempts to distinguish distinct 

 species. 



The following synopsis may assist in some degree in sepa- 

 rating the principal forms peculiar to this country and is offered 

 as an aid to a better knowledge of this difficult segregation. 



Plant reddish buff. 



Plant small, less than 4 cm. wide, often umbilicate ; spores large, 8-10// wide. 



Form a. 



Plant larjje, stout, rcacliing 12 cm. wide, average width of cap 6-8 cm. ; pileus 



often cracked, sometimes into thick scales, deeply umbilicate ; spores 7-8// 



wide. Form /i. 



*Obs. Myc. 2 : 95. 



