52 



Mycologia • 



white masses are due to great numbers of fused pile! which have 

 relatively short stipes (see Figs. 1-4). 



Further study shows that the plants are sometimes isolated, 

 growing singly and centrally stiped as shown in figures i and 2, 

 but these are not very common ; more often the plants are later- 

 ally stiped and cespitose. 



The individual plant varies in size from .25 cm. to 2 cm. in 

 diameter and the height is about Ys to ^4 of the size of the 

 diameter. The pileus is white and when fresh is covered by a 

 very delicate and uneven tomentum. The pileus in the cespitose 

 forms is umbonate but when it is centrally stiped, the disk is 

 markedly depressed. The margin is incurved, thin, and irregular, 

 and very often sinuous (Figure 3). When old the surface is 

 smooth, white, and very faintly cream-colored. The stipe is white 

 and short and has a tendency to taper upwards; very often it is 

 lacking. The stipe generally remains white even when it is dry. 



The gills are white when fresh but become decidedly cream- 

 colored like the pileus when dry ; slightly .sinuate, adnate with a 

 decurrent tooth ; medium distant. When these plants are soaked 

 in water shortly after drying they assume their natural color and 

 consistency, which is more or less leathery. Their taste is pleas- 

 ant and not unlike that of Agaricus campestris. 



The spores are hyaline and ovoid in shape, measuring from 

 3.3 /.1-4.4/x X 6.6 |tt-ii /X and form a spore print which is white. 

 These plants were submitted to Dr. W. A. Murrill for identifica- 

 tion, who regards them as a new species of no well determined 

 genus. It is possible that these plants are dwarfed specimens of 

 Clitocybe dealhata, but the great difference in size precludes their 

 being regarded as typical of the species, although they may be 

 closely related to it. It must be remembered that a number of 

 varieties of this species have been reported. I am- not prepared, 

 however, to say that this is a new variety of C. dealhata; it cer- 

 tainly differs from all C. dealhata varieties so far described by 

 Peck.3 



Specimens of this fungus have been deposited with Dr. W. A. 

 Murrill at the New York Botanical Garden. 



3 Peck, C. H. New York State Museum Bull. 157: 67-68, 73, 1911. 



