132 
THE LARGER FUNGI 
196. Crepidotus prostratus del. (L., prostratus, prostrate, in reference to its 
habit).— Pileus 11 to 2iin. (3 to 6.2 cm.) laterally, 1J to 2in. (3 to 5 cm.) 
antero-posteriorlv, smaller or larger, irregular, more or less convex with the 
centre depressed, furfuraceous-scaly or finely matt, splitting, edge interned and 
sometimes substriate, hygrophanous, Ochraceous Tawny (xv.) to near Yellow 
Ochre (xv.) or Prout’s Brown (xv.) drying near Tawny Olive (xxix.). Gills 
moderately close, 3/16in. (4.5 mm.) deep, pallid brown, then near Buckthorn 
Brown (x'V.) or Snuff Brown (xxix.) or near Cinnamon Brown (XV.), deeply 
decurrent and sometimes anastomosing on the nearly central, excentric or almost 
lateral, short (4 to Jin., 1.2 to 1.8 cm.), rather broad (7 mm.), solid white or 
pallid stem. Spores elliptical, yellowish brown or dull brown, 8 to 9.5 x 4.8 to 
5.5 /jl. Caespitose and overlapping at the base of stumps, etc., or attached to 
buried wood in sandy soil or flattened on the ground. South Australia — Monarto 
South, Kinchina, and Coonalpyn. New South Wales — Bumberry. May, September. 
E. SPORES PURPLE, FUSCOUS OR PORPHYRY COLOURED. 
PORPHYROSPORAE. 
(a) Pileus distinct from and easily separable from the fleshy stem. 
*With a ring on the stem and a volva at the base of the stem. 
CHITONTELLA P. Heim. 
(Diminutive of Gr., otviton, a coat of mail.) 
At first covered with a universal veil which ruptures to form a volva. Pileus 
free from the stem. Gills free. Stem with a ring. Spores purple-brown. 
No Australian species so far known. 
**With a volva at the base of the stem but no ring. 
CLARKEINDA O. Kuntze. 
(After C. B. Clarke, an English botanist, and Gr., Didos, pertaining to India, 
where he worked.) 
( = Chiton la Fr.) 
“ Pileus fleshy, regular. Stem central, thin. Volva membranaceous, sheathing. 
Gills free. Spores brownish purple, elliptical, smooth, with an apical germ-pore. 
Growing on the ground.’' — Rea. 
No Australian species so far known. 
***With a ring on the stem but no volva. 
PSAELIOTA (PSALIOTA) Fr. 
(Gr., pmlion, a ring.) 
“Pileus more or less fleshy, regular. Stem central. Ring membranaceous, 
adnate, persistent, rarely fugacious. Gills free. Spores fuscous purple, reddish 
purple, blackish purple, or fuscous; elliptical, oval, globose, or obovate; with 
an apical germ-pore. Cystidia present or absent. Growing on the ground.” Rea. 
Under Ps\alUot,a are placed the common field mushroom (Ps. campestris ) and 
allied species. In Australia, Ps. campestris and its varieties and perhaps Ps. 
arvensis, the horse-mushroom, are the only agarics generally eaten and sold for 
food. 
