SUBSEC1 K>\ HYGRi K ) BJ 181 



above is based on our study <>l the type. 



Dennis (1953) reports having found tin's species in [amaica and 

 Trinidad. Without studying Fresh material, we are unable to evaluate 

 the meaning of the discrepancy between the violaceous gills reported 



by Mnrrill and salmon-Orange gills described b\ I )ennis. Mm nil had a 



good eye for field characters, but was not always careful about obser- 

 vations of microscopic details. We agree that MurriU erred in describ- 

 ing the pileus as viscid. Dennis stated that the pileus surface is 



Lubricous but not truly viscid. Our sections <>l the type showed a 

 non-gelatinous cuticle. This confirms Dennis' observations. Dennis 

 found the pileus up to 2.5 cm broad, scarlet shading to orange; context 

 yellow; the spores 6-9x3-4 p; the basidia l-spored; cystidia none: 



the gill trama parallel. Further, he points out that //. subcaespitOSUS 



Murr. differs in its white 1 to straw-colored gills and broader spores 

 (9-10 X 4.5-5.5 fi). 



99 



Hygrophorus mexicanus (Singer), comb. nov. 



Hygrocybc mexicana Singer, Sydowia 12: 225. 1958. 



Pileus about 10 mm broad, convex, umbilicate, brightest scarlet red, 

 glabrous, not viscid, margin sulcate and transparent striate halfway to 

 disc. Context almost concolorus with the surface; odor none. 



Lamellae very broadly adnate, a slightly decurrent tooth present 

 or absent, or subdecurrent, yellow mixed with pinkish red, distant, 

 very broad. 



Stipe 21 mm long, 1.5 mm thick at apex, reaching 2.5 mm at base, 

 bright scarlet red, not viscid, not striate, slightly tapering upwards. 



Spores 7-9.5 X 4-7 /a, ellipsoid, rather variable but not falling into 

 definite categories of size or shape, smooth, hyaline. Basidia 25-35 X 

 7.2-9.2 ^, 2- and 4-spored, clavate, not dimorphous but remarkably 

 short as compared with spore size. Pleurocystidia and cheilocvstidia 

 none. Gill trama subregular. Clamp connections present. 



Habit, Habitat, and Distribution — Gregarious, on soil and 

 humus, Mexico (Oaxaca), July. Type, Ml 531, from Huautla de 

 Jimenez, July 12, 1957. 



Observations — Singer saws that this species is closely related to 

 the European H. coccineus sensu Smith & Ilesler. The latter, he says, 

 is rare in the United States and is larger than //. mexicanus. Singer 

 also points out that it is close to //. firmus but lacks dimorphous 

 spores. We have not seen the type. 



