SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 



39 



HYPHOLOMA 



The genus Hypholoma belongs to the purple-brown-spored group, 

 but differs from Agaricus and Stropharia in the character of the 

 veil, which persists as fragments or a silky border on the margin 

 of the pileus. In some species the latter is firm and fleshy, in others 

 fragile. The margin of the pileus is at first incurved. The stem is 

 fleshy and like Stropharia continuous with the substance of the cap. 

 Species of the genus Hypholoma generally occur in clusters or clumps 

 at the base of dead stumps, logs, or decayed wood under the ground. 



HYPHOLOMA APPENDICULATUM. 

 (Fig. 35) 



(EDIBLE) 



In this species the cap is rather thin, ovate, then expanded until somewhat 

 flattened, dark brown when damp, tawny when dry, slightly wrinkled and 

 atomate ; the flesh is white ; the gills are crowded, somewhat adnate, white, 

 at length purplish brown ; the stem is white, hollow, equal, smooth, pruinose 

 at the apex ; the veil is white, delicate, attached to the margin of the cap for 

 a short time, soon disappearing. 



The cap is 2 to 3 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 3 inches long and 2 to 3 lines thick. 



Specimens of this species may be collected in the late spring, in summer, and 

 frequently in the early fall. The plants are fragile and hygrophanous, scat- 

 tered, clustered, or densely tufted. They grow on rotten logs, stumps, or some- 

 times on the ground, arising mostly from rotten wood beneath the surface. 



This species is tender and possesses excellent esculent qualities. Drying and 

 preserving for winter use have been recommended, as the flavor is retained to 

 a remarkable degree. 



Figure 36. — Hypholoma sublateritium. (Suspected.) (From G. F. Atkinson) 



HYPHOLOMA SUBLATERITIUM. BRICK-TOP. (SUSPECTED) 



(Fi| 



In this species the cap is conical, becoming almost plane, fleshy, firm, smooth, 

 but with fine, silky fibers, brick red, sometimes tawny, margin of lighter color ; 

 the flesh is white or yellowish ; the gills are narrow, crowded, adnate, sometimes 



