22 CIRCULAR 14 3, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



ring are wanting. The gills are attached to the stem and are sinuate, 

 the degree depending upon the particular species. It has a fleshy- 

 fibrous stem, generally short and stout, the flesh of which is continu- 

 ous with that of the cap. 



TRICHOLOMA EQUESTEE. EQUESTRIAN TRICHOLOMA. (EDIBLE) 



(Fig. 21) 



In this species the cap is convex, becoming expanded, margin incurved at 

 first, then slightly wavy, viscid, pale yellowish with a greenish or brownish 

 tinge; the flesh is white or slightly yellow; the gills are sulphur yellow, 

 crowded, rounded behind, and' almost free; the stem is stout, solid, pale yellow, 

 or white. 



The cap is 2 to 3 inches broad ; the stem* is 1 to 2 inches long and one-half 

 to three-fourths inch thick. 



This species has a fairly wide geographic distribution and occurs very 

 abundantly in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia from the middle 

 of November until about Christmas. It is to be found in pine woods, where it 

 forms irregular or incomplete fairy rings. The plants exert considerable force 

 in pushing their way out of the ground through the dense mat of needles, which 

 often adheres so closely to the caps that slight elevations are the only indica- 

 tions of the presence of the mushrooms. 



Tricholoma equestre is a* very excellent edible species and is delicious when 

 fried or made into soup. The latter resembles turkey soup, but possesses a 

 more delicate flavor. 



TRICHOLOMA TERREUM 



In TricholomU terreum the cap is fleshy, convex, or nearly plane, sometimes 

 umbonate, innately fibrillose, floccose or scaly, grayish brown or mouse-colored ; 

 the flesh is white or light gray ; the gills are subdistant, adnexed, white or ash 

 colored ; the stem is solid or hollow. 



The cap is 1 to 3 inches broad ; the stem is 1 to 2 inches long. 



This species grows on* the ground in mixed or coniferous woods. It is found 

 abundantly from September to November, and much later in Virginia, Maryland, 

 and the District of Columbia. 



TrichoToma terreum frequently occurs in association with T. equestre, appear- 

 ing in abundance when the season has been too dry for a good run of T. 

 equestre. 



TRICHOLOMA NUDUM. (EDIBLE) 



The entire plant of T?-icholoma nudu\m is at first violaceous, becoming paler 

 and sometimes reddish ; the cap is convex, then expanded and sometimes de- 

 pressed, moist, smooth, margin* incurved, thin, naked, flesh-colored, compara- 

 tively thin, but firm and solid ; the gills are crowded, rounded behind, and 

 somewhat decurrent if cap is depressed, violet, but later may be reddish ; the 

 stem is equal, stuffed, violaceous, becoming pale. 



The cap is 2 to 3 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 3 inches long and one-half 

 inch thick. 



This species is edible and very good. The more delicate flavor of young 

 plants makes them preferable to those in which the color changes have taken 

 place. It grows on rich ground among leaves and is mostly gregarious. 



TRICHOLOMA PERSONATUM. BLEWITS. (EDIBLE) 



(Fig. 22) 



In this species the cap is convex, expanded, slightly depressed, fleshy, moist, 

 pale tan, tinged gray or violet; young plants may be entirely violet, margin 

 downy, involute ; the flesh is whitish ; the gills are crowded, rather broad, 

 rounded behind, nearly free, violaceous, changing to dull reddish brown; the 

 stem is stout, sub-bulbous, fibrillose, solid, colored like cap or lighter. 



The cap is 2 to 5 inches broad ; the stem is l 1 /^ to 2y 2 inches long and one-half 

 to three-fourths inch thick. 



