REPORT OF THE STATE BjTANIST 



261 



The Smooth lepiota is generally very regular and symmetrical 

 in shape and of a pure white color. Karely the central part of 

 the cap is slightly tinged with yellow or with a smoky-white hue, 

 which is occasionally dark enough to be called smoky-brown. 

 Its surface is nearly always very smooth and even. In rare 

 instances a slight mealiness or granular roughness develops on 

 the central part of the cap. A very unusual form sometimes 

 occurs in which the surface of the cap is broken into rather large 

 thick scales which give it a singular appearance. To this form 

 the name Variety squamosa has been applied. 



The gills are a little narrower toward the stem than they are 

 in the middle. At the inner extremity they are rounded and not 

 attached to the stem. They are white or slightly tinged with 

 yellow until maturity or old age when they acquire a slight 

 pinkish-brown or even a smoky-brownish color. In dried 

 specimens this last color prevails. 



The stem has about the same color as the cap. It has a white 

 collar of which the external edge is generally thicker than the 

 inner. It sometimes breaks loose from its attachment to the 

 stem and becomes a movable ring upon it as in the Parasol 

 mushroom. Occasionally in old specimens it becomes torn and 

 disappears entirely. Nearly always the stem gradually enlarges 

 toward the base and forms a more or less distinct bulb . It is 

 hollow, but as in most of the preceding species, the cavity often 

 contains webby or cottony filaments, especially in the immature 

 plants. 



Cap two to four inches broad, stem two to three inches long, 

 one-fourth to one-half an inch thick. 



Tne Smooth lepiota grows in grassy places in lawns and pas- 

 tures or by roadsides. Rarely it is found in cultivated fields, 

 and even in thin woods. It may be found from August to 

 November. 



In my estimation this species is scarcely, if at all, inferior in its 

 edible qualities to the Common mushroom. Its flesh is thick and 

 white and usually tender and savory. It is very free from the 

 attacks of insects and growing, as it often does, in places where 

 the grass is short and dense, it has a neat, clean and attractive 

 appearance. Its gills retain their white color a long time, and 

 in this respect it has an advantage over the Common mushroom, 



