Murrill: Illustrations of Fungi 
119 
to adnexed or adnate, rather broad, close, white becoming yel- 
lowish ; spores ellipsoid or subglobose, smooth, hyaline, 3-7 X 
2.5-4 yu,; stipe subequal, slender, fistulose, scaly below the annulus 
and concolorous, 4-8 cm. long, 2-7 mm. thick; veil lacerate, 
more or less appendiculate. 
This species is common in a great variety of forms throughout 
temperate North America and Europe, occurring in woods on 
the ground or at times on decayed logs. The surface of the 
pileus is characteristically granulose, although its variations in 
color are very confusing, and the lamellae may be free, adnexed, 
or adnate. A monograph of the 88 North American species of 
the genus Lepiota appeared in Volume 10, part i, of North Amer- 
ican Flora, issued in July, 1914. 
Lentodium squamosum (Schaeff.) Murrill 
Scaly Lentodium 
P late 158. Figure 6. X i 
Pileus fleshy to tough, compact, hard when dry, convex or 
nearly plane, sometimes slightly depressed in the center and some- 
times umbonate, solitary or cespitose, 5~i5 cm. broad; surface 
white or pale-ochraceous, the cuticle cracking and usually form- 
ing brownish, spot-like scales, which are sometimes almost black ; 
context white, with agreeable odor ; lamellae subdistant, broad, 
sinuate-decurrent, transversely lacerate and dentate-serrate on the 
edges, white; spores ellipsoid, 7-15 X 3-6 ju; stipe white or whit- 
ish, short, hard, solid, often pointed at the base, more or less 
adorned with recurved scales, sometimes eccentric, 2.5-6 cm. long, 
6-12 mm. thick; annulus fixed, white, often disappearing. 
This conspicuous species, usually known as Lentinus lepideus, 
occurs abundantly throughout temperate and tropical North 
America, as well as in Europe and Asia, on structural timbers and 
logs, especially of coniferous trees. It is very important as a 
timber-destroying fungus, railway ties being particularly subject 
to its attack. Although not poisonous, it is too tough to be used 
for food. Its large size and scaly surface should enable the stu- 
dent to distinguish it very readily. 
