SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 



25 



yellow, rounded behind and slightly adnexed ; the stem is tough, cartilaginous, 

 densely velvety-villose, deep umber becoming black, equal or slightly enlarged 

 at base, hollow or stuffed. 



The cap is 1 to 3 inches broad ; the stem is 1 to 3 inches long and 2 to 4 

 lines thick. 



The velvet-stemmed Collybia 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 galericulata. (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. 

 (Fig. 25) 



(EDIBLE) 



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 iy 2 inches broad; the stem is 1 to 3 inches long 

 and 2 lines thick. 



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