SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM Ds 
yellow, rounded behind and slightly adnexed; the stem is tough, cartilaginous, 
densely velvety-villose, deep umber becoming black, equal or slightly enlarged 
t base, hollow or stuffed. 
The cap is 1 to 8 inches broad; the stem is 1 to 3 inches long and 2 to 4 
lines thick. 
The velvet-stemmed Coliybia is readily recognized by its dark villose stem 
and viscid cap, which in wet weather may even appear to have a thick, glu- 
tinous coat. It grows on ground that contains decaying wood, on stumps, or 
even on living trees, where the mycelium may have gained entrance through 
a wound. In such instances it assumes a semiparasitic habit, and consider- 
able injury to the tree may result. Although Collybia velutipes is reported as 
occurring in every month of the year, it is especially a cold-weather species. 
MYCENA 
In the genus Mycena the cap is thin, conic or bell-shaped, and 
usually streaked with longitudinal lines. In some species it is blunt 
or umbonate when expanded. The margin is at first straight and 
closely applied to the stem. The gills are adnate or adnexed, and 
in some species there is a slight decurrent tooth. 
FIGURE 25.—Mycena galericulate. (Edible.) (From G. F. Atkinson) 
The plants are small, brittle, and often possess a strong alkaline 
odor or an odor of radishes, which, however, frequently disappears 
in drying. As the odor is not permanent, the collector should 
promptly note the character when the specimens are fresh. 
The genera Collybia and Mycena are closely related but may be 
distinguished by the fact that in Collybia in the young condition 
the margin of the cap is inrolled while in Mycena it is straight and 
lies against the stem. In addition, in species of Mycena the cap is 
generally bell-shaped, and the stem is remarkably brittle and if 
broken quickly can be heard to snap. 
MYCENA GALERICULATA. (EDIBLE) 
(Fig. 25) 
In this species the cap is conical, bell-shaped, umbonate when expanded, dry 
and smooth, brownish gray, striate to the umbo; the gills are white to flesh- 
colored, adnate, slightly decurrent, rather distant, unequal, connected by veins; 
the stem hollow, rigid, polished, villose at base. 
The cap is three-fourths to 14% inches broad; the stem is 1 to 3 inches long 
and 2 lines thick. 
