ESCULENT FUNGI OF GREAT BRITAIN. S65 
tinged more or less with violet, numerous, irregular. 
Stem tomentose in young plants, 3-4 inches long, 
of an inch in diameter, bulbous, solid, spongy, flesh 
darker than in the pileus. Veil cobweb-like, fugacious. 
Agaricus violaceus does not seem to be very highly 
prized either in this country or on the Continent. Sower- 
BY, in a note at the end of the index to his Fungi (in 
Engl. Bot.), mentions that it is sold in the English markets 
under the name of bluets, but that it is not good for much. 
Persoon has not admitted it into his catalogue of edible 
species ; but incidentally alludes to its being eaten in some 
countries. ... Trai^e, p. 163. De CANooLLid. observes, that 
Jg. araneosus and Ag. violaceO'Cinerens, which bear the 
nearest aflinity to Ag\ violaceus, are eaten in Italy, and 
named fungo vedovo and grumato paonazzo. 
Confusion seems still to exist between some of the species 
of this group, and as it contains several that are considered 
poisonous, great caution should be observed in regard to 
them. The plant commonly sold as bluets, and that which 
has the nearest resemblance to it (Ag. glaucopus, Sow. t. 223. 
which I suspect may not be specifically distinct), are quite 
innocent, and may either be eaten like the common mush- 
room, to which they are similar in flavour, or be made into 
ketchup. 
14. Ag. piperatus, pileo infuudibuliformi, rigido glabro, 
albo, lamellis angustissimis, confertis, lacte stipiteque solido, 
obeso albis. Fries. 
Agaricus piperatus. Scop. Fl. Carn. p. ^^%...BoU. 
Fung, t. 91..,.Fl. Dan. t. 11^9,.... Per s. Syn. Fung, 
p. 4a%,„Fries' Syst. Mycol. v. 1. p. 76.,..GrezK FL 
Edin, ined. 
Ag. amarus, Schoeff. Fung. t. 83. 
VOL IV. B b 
