REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST I914 63 



The coming " fairy ring " mushroom is practically the only 

 species of Marasmius that is used for food. It has a wide dis- 

 tribution and is highly esteemed by the mycophagist. It has been 

 shown that it is partially parasitic upon grass, often slowly killing 

 it out in small areas. 



12 Marasmius spongiosus Berk. & Curt. 



Jour. Bot. & Kew Misc. 172. 1849. 



Pileus fleshy, broadly convex, obtuse or plane, 1-3 cm broad; 

 surface whitish fuscous, whitish brown, or tan, the center darker; 

 lamellae slightly adnate, subcrowded, moderately broad, whitish; 

 spores 7-9 by 3-4 /x; stipe 5-10 cm long, 2-4 mm thick, fur- 

 furaceous-pulverulent to villous, the base thickened, more or less 

 spongy, tawny to dark brown or almost black, often rooting, the 

 rooting portion being 3-5 cm long. 



Among leaves and other vegetable debris in woods. Rather 

 common. 



There is much variation in size in this species where it is found 

 in different localities. It is possible that two or more species 

 are confused under this name. Since there are all gradations from 

 large to small plants, size alone can scarcely be taken as a basis 

 for distinguishing separate species. The smooth pileus, tawny to 

 dark brown, villous stipe, which is often spongy or rooting at the 

 base, and the light-colored lamellae characterize our plant. M . 

 semisquarrosus Berk. & Cooke does not seem to be distinct. 

 M. spongiosus may possibly be known in Europe as M . 

 erythropus (Pers.) Fr. It is at least very close to M. 

 erythropus (Pers.) Fr. [Ic. Hymen, pi. 174, fig. 2, and 

 Cooke, Brit. Fungi pi. 1123, B(i077.B).] 



13 Marasmius dichrous Berk. & Curt. 



Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. II, 12 -.426. 



Bui. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci., 1:58. 1873 (As Marasmius caespit- 

 osus Peck). 



Jour. Cine. Soc. Nat. Hist., 6 1192. 1883 (As Marasmius fagineus 

 Morgan). 



Pileus subfleshy, convex, at length plane or depressed, 2-4 cm 

 broad, gregarious or cespitose; surface not polished, dry, nearly 

 smooth to rugose-striate, reddish or purplish pallid to alutaceous, 

 becoming brown in dried plants ; lamellae adnate, often becoming 

 nearly free, close, narrow in front, often crisped, pale reddish ; 



