SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 37 
AGARICUS PLACOMYCES. FLAT-CAP MUSHROOM. (EDIBLE) 
In this species the cap is thin, at first broadly ovate, convex or expanded 
and flat in age, whitish, adorned with numerous minute, brown scales, which 
become crowded in the center, forming a large brown patch; the gills are 
close, white, then pinkish, finally blackish brown; the veil is broad; the ring 
is large. In the early stages, according to Atkinson,’ a portion of the veil 
frequently encircles the stipe like a tube, while a part remains still stretched 
over the gills. The stem is smooth, stuffed or hollow, bulbous, white or 
whitish, the bulb often stained with yellow. 
The cap is 2 to 4 inches broad; the stem is 3 to 5 inches long and one-fourth 
to one-half inch thick. 
This species frequents hemlock woods, occurring from July to September. 
AGARICUS RODMANI. RKODMAN’S AGARIC. (EDIBLE) 
In this species the cap is firm, rounded, convex, then nearly plane, white, 
becoming subochraceous, smooth or cracked into scales on the disk, margin 
decurved; the flesh is white; the gills are narrow, close, white, pink or 
reddish pink, finally blackish brown; the stem is solid, short, whitish, smooth, 
or slightly mealy, squamulose above the ring; the ring is double, sometimes 
appearing as two collars with space between. 
The cap is 2 to 4 inches broad; the stem is 2 to 8 inches long and 6 to 10 
lines thick. 
Agaricus rodmani may easily be mistaken for A. campestris, but can be 
distinguished by the thicker, firmer flesh, narrower gills, which are nearly 
white when young, and the peculiar collar, which appears double. This 
species growsS on grassy ground, often springing from crevices of unused 
pavements or between the curbing and the walk. It is to be found principally 
from May to July. 
AGARICUS SUBRUFESCENS. (EDIBLE) 
In this species the cap is at first deeply hemispherical, becoming convex 
or broadly expanded, silky, fibrillose, and minutely or obscurely squamulose, 
whitish, grayish, or dull reddish brown, usually smooth and darker on the 
disk; the flesh is white, unchangeable; the gills are at first white or whitish, 
then pinkish, finally blackish brown; the stem is rather long, often somewhat 
thickened or bulbous at the base, at first stuffed, then hollow, white; the 
annulus is flocculose or floccose squamose on the lower surface. Two addi- 
tional characters that assist in identification are the mycelium, which forms 
slender branching rootlike. strings, and the almondlike flavor of the flesh. 
The cap is 3 to 4 inches broad; the stem is 2% to 4 inches long. 
The plants often grow in large clusters of 20 to 30 or even 40 individuals. 
They occur in the wild state and have also been reported as a volunteer 
crop in especially prepared soil. Specimens collected in the vicinity of 
Washington, D. C., were found growing near the river on a rocky slope rich 
in leaf mold. Agaricus subrufescens is considered a very excellent edible 
species. 
: STROPHARIA 
The genus Stropharia is easily recognized among the purple-spored 
agarics. It is distinguished from Agaricus by its usually adnate gills 
and the continuity of the flesh of the ¢ap and stem. A ring is always 
present in young plants but often absent at maturity. The edibility 
of species of this genus is a disputed point among mycophagists. 
5 ATKINSON, GEORGE F. STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI, p. 24, 2d ed. 1903. 
