34 BULLETIN 115, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



STROPHARIA. 



The genus Stropharia is easily recognized among the purple-spored 

 agarics, and is distinguished from Agaricus by its usually adnate gills 

 and the continuity of the flesh of the cap and stem. A ring is always 

 present in young plants, but often absent at maturity. The edibility 

 of species of this genus is a disputed point among mycoph agists. 



Stropharia semiglobata. 



Cap rounded, then hemispherical, thick at center, becoming thin toward the even 

 margin, light yellow, viscid when moist; gills broad, adnate, unequal, when young 

 light brown, later purplish brown or blackish; stem slender, hollow, even or slightly 

 bulbous, smooth, yellowish, but paler at apex, where striate markings from the gills 

 may be present, viscid; ring viscous, incomplete, formed by the remains of the 

 glutinous veil, which soon disappears. 



Cap 1 to 1^ inches broad; stem 2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 3 lines thick. (PL XXV, 

 fig. 2.) 



This species is remarkable for the uniformly hemispherical cap. It occurs commonly 

 on dung or in well-manured ground. Opinions differ regarding its edibility, and 

 it is consequently safe to refrain from collecting the species. 



HYPHOLOMA. 



The spores of the genus Hypholoma are purple brown. The mar- 

 gin of the cap is incurved in the young condition. The veil generally 

 adheres by fragments to the margin of the cap, rarely forming a distinct 

 ring. The gills are attached to the stem and sometimes are emargi- 

 nate. The stem is fleshy and continuous with the substance of the 

 cap. Hypholoma shows a close relationship to Agaricus and Stro- 

 pharia, differing from both in the absence of a distinct ring, and it 

 further differs from Agaricus, in which genus the stem and cap are 

 noncontinuous. 



The plants of this genus generally occur in clusters or clumps, 

 arising from decayed wood on or under the ground. 



Hypholoma appendiculatum. (Edible.) 



Cap rather thin, ovate, then expanded until somewhat flattened, when damp dark 

 brown, tawny when dry, slightly wrinkled and atomate; flesh white; gills crowded, 

 somewhat adnate, white, at length purplish brown; stem white, hollow, equal, smooth, 

 pruinose at apex; veil white, delicate, attached to the margin of the cap for a short 

 time. 



Cap 2 to 3 inches broad; stem 2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 3 lines thick. (PI. XXVII, 

 fig. 2; from G. F. Atkinson.) 



Specimens of this species may be collected in the late spring, in summer, and fre- 

 quently in the early fall. The plants are fragile and hygrophanous, scattered, clus- 

 tered, or densely tufted. They grow on rotten logs, stumps, or sometimes on the 

 ground, arising mostly from rotten wood beneath the surface. 



This species is tender and possesses excellent esculent qualities. Drying and pre- 

 serving for winter use have been recommended, as the flavor is retained to a remark- 

 able degree. 



