SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM Sl 
PANUS 
PANUS STYPTICUS. BITTER PANUS. (POISONOUS) 
This little species might be taken for Lentinus because of its general ap- 
pearance and character; by certain authors it has been considered as belonging 
to that genus. However, in typical Lentinus species the gills are serrate, while 
in Panus they are entire. 
The eap is pale cinnamon to light tan, kidney-shaped, scurfy, tough; the gills 
are thin, narrow, crowded, connected by veins; the stem is short, lateral, as- 
cending, and pruinose. 
The cap is one-half to 1 inch broad. 
This is a very common species and is to be found in clusters on stumps, 
The phosphorescence of rotten stumps is often due to its presence. It is shriv- 
eled and inconspicuous in dry weather, reviving in wet weather. 
Panus stypticus is extremely astringent, producing a very uncomfortable 
condition of the mouth and throat. It is furthermore considered poisonous. 
CLAUDOPUS 
The genus Claudopus belongs to the rosy-spored agarics and 
corresponds to Pleurotus of the white- spored agarics in the cap 
being excentric and lateral, the stem rudimentary or obsolete, and 
the gills sinuate or decurrent. The plants grow in an inverted 
position upon stumps or old wood. 
CLAUDOPUS NIDULANS. NEST-CAP CLAUDOPUS 
In this species the cap is suborbicular or kidney-shaped, sessile or narrowed 
behind into a stemlike base, caps often overlapping, yellow or buff, downy, hairy 
or scaly toward the involute margin; the gills are broad, rather close, orange 
yellow. 
The cap is 1 to 3 inches broad. 
Claudopus nidulans is widely distributed and is to be found in the fall, 
growing on decaying branches, wood, ete. It is easily recognized from its 
shelving and sometimes resupinate habit, yellow or buff cap, and orange yellow 
gills. It is edible, and though the taste is said to be mild and pleasant, the 
substance is tough. 
VOLVARIA 
The genus Volvaria is distinguished among the rosy-spored agarics 
by the universal veil, which, becoming ruptured, remains as a “large 
loose cup at the base ‘of the stem, and by the absence of a ring. The 
stem is easily separable from the cap and the gills are usually free, 
rounded behind, at first white, but later pink. 
The genus is comparable to Amanitopsis among the white-spored 
agarics in having a volva but no ring. Species “of Volvaria grow 
in rich woods, on leaf mold or rotten wood, and on richly manured 
ground. 
VOLVARIA BOMBYCINA. SILKY VOLVARIA 
(Fig. 30) 
In this species the cap is globose, bell-shaped, later convex and sometimes 
subumbonate, white, silky when young, smooth at the apex, sometimes scaly 
when old; the flesh is white; the gills are ventricose, free, not reaching the 
margin, edge sometimes toothed, the stem is white, solid, smooth, tapering 
from base to apex; the volva is large, membranaceous, tough, Somewhat viscid. 
The cap is 38 to § inches broad: the stem is 3 to 6 inches long and 6 lines 
thick. 
This species is widely distributed, but nowhere common. It is found on 
fallen or living trees of various species. 
