136 



Mycologia 



calls attention to Lanzi's figures of Pilosace algeriensis as closely 

 resembling our plant. Kauffman, as well as McDougall, says our 

 plant is not a Pilosace, and he keeps it in Stropharia where Atkin- 

 son placed it. Specimens growing on Coprinus comatus were sent 

 me in 191 5 by Mr. Boughton, of Pittsford, New York, but they 

 were not in good shape for study. My notes on them read: 

 " Pileus cream-colored, 6 cm. broad ; context white, taste mild ; 

 lamellae like those of Agaricus campestris in appearance; stipe 

 white, 5 cm. long, 1.4 cm. thick. Not a Panaeolus, but like Agari- 

 cus without a ring." These would seem to agree with Harper's 

 latest conclusions, but not with McDougall's. 



13. Stropharia campestris Peck ms. 



Pileus convex to plane or nearly so, gregarious, 5-8 cm. broad ; 

 surface smooth, moist when fresh, yellowish-white or cream-col- 

 ored, becoming darker on drying; context compact, yellowish- 

 white, with farinaceous or slightly bitter taste; lamellae thin, ad- 

 nate, slate-colored tinged with violaceous, becoming blackish- 

 brown tinged with purple ; spores ellipsoid, purplish-brown, 10- 

 12 x 6-8 fx; stipe equal or slightly bulbous at the base, solid, annu- 

 late, white, 2.5-5 cm - l° n g> 4-10 mm. thick. 



Type locality : Morrisville Island, Pennsylvania. 



Habitat : On grassy ground. 



Distribution : New York and Pennsylvania. 



According to Mr. Sterling, the bitter taste is destroyed by cook- 

 ing and the mushroom is edible and better in flavor than Agaricus 

 campester, for which it is sometimes mistaken and from which it 

 may be separated by its adnate, not free, gills. The gills are at 

 first concealed by the white veil, which finally ruptures and adheres 

 partly to the margin of the pileus and partly to the stem. It is 

 closely related to Stropharia caesifolia, from which it differs in the 

 color of the gills and possibly in flavor. 



The above description and notes made by Dr. Peck were kindly 

 furnished me by Dr. House. The type of this species was col- 

 lected in August, 1905, by E. B. Sterling. I also have plants col- 

 lected by L. M. Underwood on the Columbia Campus in October, 

 1899. 



