Pink-spored Series 
lesh—Tinged with violet. 
Time—Autumn. 
Habitat—Thick, damp woods. 
C. violaceus differs from c. alboviolaceus in having the cap 
dark violet and usually covered with fibres. 
GENUS PLUTEUS 
The members of the genus Plufeus are fleshy fungi with 
pink spores, and gills free from the stem. They have no volva or 
wrapper about the young plant, and no ring or annulus on the 
stem. Eleven species are known from the United States, of 
which Pluteus cervinus, the fawn-coloured mushroom, is the 
commonest. 
The generic name Pluteus means ail that is joined together 
to make a cover for besiegers at their work, that they may be 
screened from the missiles of the enemy. The arrangement of 
the caps in the group pictured is suggestive of the meaning. 
Fawn-coloured Pluteus (Edible) 
Pluteus cervinus 
Cap or Pileus—Light 
brown or fawn 
coloured, 
streaked with 
lines of darker 
brown. Sur- 
face dry and 
shining. Skin 
thin and papery. 
3% inches 
broad. 
Gills or Lamella— 
Almost white 
when young, 
flesh colour 
when mature. 
Broad, unequal 
in length, free 
from the stem. 
Stem or Stipe— 
Creamy white, P. cervinus 
Pla'-té-tts Cér-vi'-ntis 
87 
