OF SOOTH AUSTRALIA. 
133 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
GUIs bright pink even when young .. .. 197. Psalliota cam pent vis. 
Gills for long pallid, never bright pink. 
In fields, roadsides, etc. 
Very large and stout, often in rings, cap 
whitish, in fields 19&, ft. arvensis- 
Relatively small, whitish, fragrant 199. Ps. arvensis var. 
Under bushes and trees. Juif/uins, 
White with buff-vellow stains -HO. Ps. ■van Ihodcrnia. 
Amongst debris under Eucalypts. 
Moderately large. I'ileus cinnamon drab to 
vinaeeous fawn. Gills vinaceous fawn .. 201. Ps. riiiacca, 
11)7. Psalliota campestris (L.) Fr. (L., eampegtris, belonging to a plain). The 
Common Field Mushroom. — Pileus 2 to 4iin. (5 to 11.2 cm.), white or rufeseent, 
fleshy, convex, then expanded, obtuse, dry, silky-even or squamulose. Gills vivid 
fleshy-pink almost from their first recognition, at: length purplish-brown (umber 
fuscous), free, close, ventricose, equally attenuated both ways. Stem U to 3in. 
(3.7 to 7.5 cm.), white, firm, bulbous when young, then somewhat equal, even 
or squamulose. Ring white, membranaceous, median, spreading or reflexed, 
torn, often fugacious. Flesh white, becoming slightly reddish or fuscous, thick, 
soft. Spores brownish purple, broadly elliptical, 6 to 7x5 to 5.5 p. Smell 
ami taste pleasant. South Australia — In suitable places probably throughout the 
State except portions of the arid interior. All the other Australian States. 
Europe, America, etc. April, May, 
The Common Field Mushroom is abundant, probabh throughout the State, 
under suitable weather conditions, and especially after the first heavy autumnal 
rains. It is characterised by the gills being bright' pink even in early stages, 
by the white or whitish cap sometimes scaly, by the veil which ruptures to form 
aii evident ring and by the absence of a volvn or cup at the base of the stem. 
The forms found in fields amongst grass is usually rather small and has a smooth 
white pileus. Large specimens, often growing in more sandy soils, tend to be 
more squamulose. 
198. Psalliota arvensis (Sclmeff.) Fr. (L., arvensis, belonging to cultivated 
fields.) The Horse-Mushroom — Very large, forming rings up to 33ft. in 
diameter. Pileus 2i to 7in. (6.2 to 17.5 cm.), at first irregularly subspherical 
or quadrilateral-hemispherical, then deeply convex, stout, white becoming a little 
brownish (browner than Avellaneons, XL.) or with tints of yellow, with scattered 
adpressed llgulate sometimes brown scales. Gills free, close, for long pallid 
whitish or Light Buff (xv.), then dull pinkish, finally purplish brown. Stem 
up to 3in, (7.5 cm.), at first short, very stout, up to Ijin. (3.7 cm.) thick, equal, 
sometimes slightly bulbous below, silky white, sometimes with yellow tints, 
sometimes floccose below. Ring ample, distant, with floccose fragments below. 
Flesh white usually without any yellow tint, brownish where insect-eaten. Spores 
elliptical, brownish purple, 6 to 9 x 3.5 to 5.5 p. Often in rings. Edible. South 
Australia — Flats near Kalaagadoo — rings 33ft. in diameter; Encounter Bay — a 
ring on the Bluff had n diameter of 33ft. in 1926; Kinchina; Mount Lofty; 
Adelaide; and probably in suitable localities throughout the southern portion of 
the State. April to June, August. 
This is a large and coarser species of mushroom characterised by the gilts 
being at first whitish, passing through a pink stage which is less vivid than in 
Pa. campestris to the final purplish-brown. The ring is typically double and the 
plants sometimes grow in largo “fairy rings.” It is edible and probably many 
of the mushrooms sold in the Adelaide shops belong to this species rather than 
to Ps. wmpcslrix. It is possible that it may disagree with some people who are 
unable to digest it. It is certainly loss delicate, and coarser (hence the name 
“horse” — also applying to its size — similarly used in horse-chestnut), than the 
Field Mushroom. An Adelaide University student on one occasion ate some 
mushrooms which from the rather course appearance and a slight smell of 
iodoform seem to be this species or one of its varieties; the spores measured 
7x5 p; he vomited slightly after twenty minutes and was violently sick two 
hours inter; his hands, fingers, and feet, felt cold and he passed three motions; 
there were no further ill effects. 
