200 SECTION HYGROCYBE 



Heinemann 1220; Hesler 23807. Denmark: J. P. Jensen (Hesler 23938, 

 23939). Switzerland: Huijsman (Hesler 24003). 



Observations — From the literature, and dried material from Eu- 

 rope, which we have seen, it is apparent that this is a variable species. 

 According to Kiihner and Romagnesi ( 1953 ) , the pileus may be white, 

 or horn-gray to gray -brown; and may, on drying, become dusky gray or 

 brownish-alutaceous. In our collections, the pileus was white or tinged 

 pale gray over the center, and on drying became brownish. Orton 

 ( 1960 ) reports the pileus, in material from England, pallid gray, gray- 

 clay, or gray-olive with a paler margin. He also reports that the gills 

 and flesh slowly become pinkish when cut or handled. Finally, Moser 

 also ( 1955 ) describes the pileus as pale gray, olive-gray, or brownish, 

 the margin pale. 



We have studied the microscopic characters of material from Bel- 

 gium, Denmark, and Switzerland; and find some variation in pileus 

 color (dried), but little in spore size. From Denmark, material from 

 Jensen (Hesler 23938), the spores are 5.5-7.5 X 4-4.7 /x; from M. Lange 

 ( Hesler 23939 ) , the spores are 6.5-8 X 4-5 /*. From Belgium ( Hesler 

 23807), the spores are 6-8.5 X 4-5 jx. In our California collections, the 

 spores are slightly larger. In spore size and pileus color, our material 

 closely resembles a collection from Switzerland by Huijsman (Hesler 

 24003). 



J. Lange (1935-40) treated this species as a Camarophyllus, de- 

 spite his statement that the trama of the gills is almost parallel, but 

 somewhat interwoven. He regards it as a transition to Hygrocybe. 



This species appears to be very rare in North America. It is close 

 to H. acutus, but readily distinct as is pointed out in our discussion of 

 that species. Its relationships appear to be with H. ovinus, but is not 

 likely to be mistaken for either that species or H. nitratus. 



114 



Hygrophorus huronensis Sm. & Hes. 

 Lloydia 5: 59. 1942 



Hygrocybe huronensis (Sm. & Hes.) Singer, Lilloa 22: 153. 1951. 



Illustrations: 

 Fig. 57. 

 Smith and Hesler, Lloydia 5, pi. 14. 



Pileus 1-3 cm broad, convex, the margin incurved somewhat, the 

 disc flattened but not appreciably depressed, becoming broadly con- 

 vex to nearly plane in age, not umbonate, appearing glassy and shining 

 watery white, sometimes with a watery-gray circle around the disc 

 (similar in color to the radial striae), opaque when faded and snow 



