134 
THE LARGER Fl'NIJl 
In Sydney there is a tall-stemmed variety (P.s\ arvensis var. iodoformis Clel, ot 
Clieel) which has an unusually strong smell like iodoform. Not only is this 
noticed in the field, but in an instance when these mushrooms were being cooked 
the whole house smelt strongly of iodofo-rm which was noticeable at the front 
door and led to inquiries as to sickness. Though I have tasted this variety, the 
iodoform smell prevented my doing more. However, some ladies on the North 
Shore line in Sydney ate some and felt seriously ill afterwards. 
199. Psalliota arvensis (Sehaeff.) Hr. var. fragrant: Clel. et Cheel. (L., 
f mgr am, fragrant). — Pileus up to 31in. (8.7 cm.), usually much less, at first 
hemispherical, then convex, sometimes conical with a depressed centre, sometimes 
gibbous, smooth, shining, pure white, sometimes with faint rusty or yellowish 
stains, when bruised turning yellowish. Gills free, or just reaching the stem, 
close, whitish for long, then pallid greyish or pale creamy pink, finally purplish 
brown or paler than purple-black. Stem 34in. (8.7 cm.) or less, sometimes up to 
lin. (1.2 cm.) thick, slender or stout, slightly hollow or solid, with a pointed 
root, white, sometimes later with a reddish tint. Texture sometimes tougher 
than that of Ps. eampestris, the Field Mushroom. Spores 5.2 to 8.5 x 3.4 to 5.2 /i. 
Slight but definite fragrant smell. South Australia — Under Firms and amongst 
grass by the wayside, Glen Osmond (Adelaide). April to July. 
This is a small form of the Horse Mushroom characterised by a definite 
fragrant smell. 
200. Psalliota xanthoderma Goner. (Ur., mnthos, yellow; derma, skin). — Pilous 
up to Gin. (7.5 cm.), subglobose, then convex, nearly smooth but with a tendency 
to thin ftbrillose scales, pure white with stains of Butt Yellow (iv.) appearing 
especially when bruised but also naturally. Gills free, rather narrow, pallid drab 
when young, then cinereous near Light Drab (xlvi.). Stem up to 2in. (5 cm,), 
rather stout (up to fin., 1.8 cm.), equal, smooth, sometimes slightly bulbous at 
the base, slightly hollow, white with buff-yellow stains. Bing rather distant, 
distinct, narrow, double witli the lower part narrow and adpressed to the stem, 
stained buff-yellow. Flesh thickisli. Smell faint. Spores dull vinous, 5.2 to 6.5 
x 3.7 to 4.8 fi. Often under trees. South Australia — Fullarton, Glen Osmond, 
Adelaide Hospital grounds. June, July. 
This mushroom is readily recognised by the stains of buff yellow appearing- 
on the pilous and stem, especially when injured, and by the gills not passing 
through a bright pink stage but presenting a cinereous tinge. It usually grows 
under trees or shrubs. The writer lias eaten it but found it less palatable than 
the Field Mushroom. It is said to be “poisonous” to some persons, which 
probably means that it may upset them but not that' it can cause a fatal issue. 
20.1. Psalliota vinacea del. (L., vinaceus, wine-coloured). — Pilous up to 4in. 
(1(1 cm.), at first conico-hemisjiheric.al, then convex, finally expanding, covered 
with adpressed fibrils or fibr ill oso-sq uames, Cinnamon Drab (xlvi.) to a vinaceous 
brown. Gills free, rather close, when young pallid (Tillcul Buff, XL.), later 
Light Vinaceous Fawn (XL.), tints of pink never so vivid as in the Common Field 
Mushroom. Stem 3 to 3Jin. (7.5 to 8.7 cm.), stout (4iu., 1.2 cm., or more in 
diameter), clad with lloccose fibrils below tbe ring, sometimes a little bulbous 
at the base, rather rooting, solid or with a trace of hollowness, whitish. Veil 
white, underside rather lloccose, ring ample, rather distant. Flesh of the stem 
turning slightly brownish towards the periphery. Spores purplish brown, 5.5 x 
3.5 g. Amongst fallen sticks, etc., under Eucalvpts. South Australia — National 
Park. June. 
Characterised by being a large species of mushroom growing amongst the 
debris of sticks and chips under Kucalypts in hilly forest country, by tbe 
vinaceous brown colour of the pileus due to abundant adpressed fibrils, by the 
gills at first pallid and never as rich a pink as in the Common Field Mushroom, 
though on the other hand not, dingy, by the lloccose appearance of the underside- 
of the white veil, and by tbe lloccose fibrils on the stem below the ring. 
