GILL FUNGI 57 



Clitopilus caespitosus Cluster Top 



Cap medium, 5-10 cm. wide, white or whitish, shining, smooth, convex, then 

 plane or slightly depressed ; stem 4-8 cm. by 4-8 mm., white, mealy above, solid, 

 more or less densely clustered ; gills more or less decurrent, pinkish or browmish- 

 pink, narrow and crowded; spores rosy, nearly globose, S-4/i. The name refers 

 to the clustered habit. 



In woodland and grassland, late summer and autumn; edible. 



Figure 33. Clitopilus abortivus 

 (Abortive form) 



Clitopilus abortivus Dwarf Top 



Cap medium, 5-10 cm. wide, gray or grayish-brown, minutely silky-hairy, not 

 sticky, becoming smooth when old, convex, rarely plane; stem 3-7 cm. by 5-10 mm., 

 grayish to gray-brown, striate, solid ; gills more or less decurrent, rosy, narrow and 

 close; spores rosy, irregular, ellipsoid, 8-11 X 5-6/i. The name refers to the habit 

 of producing deformed plants, which are usually more abundant than the normal 

 ones, and are sometimes alone found. In this case, they are readily mistaken by the 

 novice for puffballs, owing to their top-shaped or club-shaped form, and the absence 

 of gills. Both forms are edible, but the abortive one is regarded as the better. 



On ground and decaying wood in forest and woodland, late summer and autumn. 



Clitopilus orcella Orcelle 



Cap medium, 6-12 cm. wide, white or whitish, more or less sticky when wet, 

 convex to plane or slightly depressed; stem 2-6 cm. by 7-10 mm., white, minutely 

 scaly or powderv, solid ; gills long decurrent, rosy, crowded ; spores brownish- 

 pink, ellipsoid, 8-10 X S/t- The name refers to the form of the cap. 



On the ground in woodland, summer and autumn ; delicious. 



