MUSHROOMS AND OTHER COMMON FUNGI. 27 



Claudopus nidulans. 



Capsuborbicular or kidney shaped, sessile or narrowed behind into a stemlike base, 

 caps often overlapping, yellow or buff, downy, tiairy or scaly toward the involute 

 margin; gills broad, rather close, orange yellow. 



Cap 1 to 3 inches broad. (PI. XX, fig. 2; source of photograph unknown.) 

 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 some- 

 times resupinate habit, yellow or buff cap, and orange yellow gills. It is edible. The 

 taste is said to be mild and pleasant, but the substance tough. 



VOLVARIA. 



The genus Volvaria is distinguished 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. 



Cap globose, bell shaped, later convex and sometimes subumbonate, white, silky 

 when young, smooth at the apex, sometimes scaly when old; flesh white; gills 

 ventricose, free, not reaching the margin, edge sometimes toothed; stem white, solid, 

 smooth, tapering from base to apex; volva large, membranaceous, tough, somewhat 

 viscid . 

 Cap 3 to 8 inches broad; stem 3 to 6 inches long, 6 lines thick. (PL XXI, fig. 1.) 

 This species is widely distributed, but nowhere common. It is found on fallen or 

 living trees of various species. 



PLUTEUS. 



The genus Pluteus may be recognized among the rosy-spored agarics 

 by its symmetrical cap, central stem distinct from the cap, and free 

 salmon-colored gills. In addition to these features, the absence of a 

 volva and ring will assist in the determination of the species of this 

 genus. 



These plants are usually found growing upon wood. 



Pluteus cervinus. (Edible.) 



Cap at first bell shaped, later convex and expanded to almost plane, fleshy, generally 

 smooth but with radiating fibrils, or sometimes more or less scaly, light brown, grayish 

 brown, or sooty; margin entire; flesh, white; gills broad, ventricose, unequal, free, 

 white becoming flesh colored; stem color of cap, paler above, firm, solid, fibrillose 

 or subglabrous, nearly equal but slightly tapering above. 



Cap 2 to 5 inches broad ; stem 2 to 5 inches long, 3 to 6 lines thick. (PI. XXII, fig. 1; 

 from C. G. Lloyd.) 



Pluteus cervinus occurs intermittently from spring to early fall. It issues from the 

 base of decaying stumps or logs and sometimes appears in great abundance on sawdust 

 piles. It is edible, and when young is tender and of good flavor. 



