460 



BASIDIOMYCETES. 



cleared forest-land where the fungus sporophores are numerous 

 on dead stools or roots. 



Agaricus (Pholiota) adiposus Fr.' (Britain and U.S. 

 America). This is a conspicuous bright yellow or honey-yellow 

 toadstool, with a glistening slimy cap which, as well as the 

 stalk, is beset with concentric darker scales (Fig. 289). The 

 scales and delicate annulus become indistinct or disappear on 

 old sporophores or after much rain. The stalk is thick, fleshy, 

 and stiff, and while growing so changes its direction as to keep 

 the cap always in a horizontal position. The pileus or cap, at 



Fio. 2S9. — Agaj-icus adipostiji. A, A mature aud a very youug sporophore grown 

 in the forest ; the other sporophores were raised on Fir-wood in a cellar. The 

 latter have longer thinner stalks, and a basal swelling beset with white down. 

 5, Mature and germinating spores, (v. Tubeuf del.) 



first globose, opens out cone-shaped or flat with a diameter of 

 about 5 cm. Eemains of the velum adhere to the margin. The 

 underside of the cap is at first yellow, later mouse-grey. 

 The lamellae are of three sizes, the largest extending from 

 margin to stalk. From the lamellae arise the basidia, with 

 four sterigmata each giving off a single spore. The spores 

 fall at maturity, and cover neighbouring objects with a brown 

 dust. They are oval with a length of 7-1 0/x and a breadth 

 of 5-6/u. 



The sporophores spring up rapidly in large numbers on 



' V. Tubeuf, " Eine neue Kraiikheit d. Weisstanne. " Zeilsrhr. f. Font u. Jagd- 

 wesen, 1890. 



