SOME COMMON - MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 31 



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 cap 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, etc. 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 3 to 8 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. 



