Harper—Species of Pholiota of the Great Lakes Region. 471 
The genus includes plants of very diverse habits since it is 
based on only two characters, spore color and annulus. The 
most typical are the bright colored clusters of the squarrose 
and squamose group growing on the trunks of trees. They have 
the characteristic universal veil composed of matted fibers which 
tear apart as the plant expands leaving the stem annulate and 
the margin of the pilous appendiculate. Large plants growing 
on the ground of the type of Pholiota caperata can scarcely be 
distinguished from Stropharia. Others of the praecox-dura 
type are very similar to the appendiculate forms of Hypholoma 
and some of the species with smooth caps and scanty collars 
might almost as properly be placed in the genus Flammula. 
But all divisions are more or less artificial and spore color and 
annulus are perhaps as well marked characters as can be found 
on which to base a genus. 
The species of Pholiota which grow on the trunks of trees are 
important from an economic point of view for they are quite as 
destructive to timber as some of the polypores. The mycelium 
grows for a long time in the wood before it is prepared to burst 
forth under favorable weather conditions into the handsome gold 
and yellow clusters which adorn the trunks of decaying trees in 
late summer and autumn. 
Stevenson remarks that “none of the species of Pholiota can 
be commended as edible” but none of them are known to be 
poisonous or harmful. Some of them like Pholiota caperata 
are very delicious. No one need be afraid to try them. 
We have not attempted to make an artificial key to the species 
but we think that the synopsis together with the pictures will 
enable anyone to recognize easily the plants we have had in 
hand. We have added under each type notes on the related spe¬ 
cies which are reported from the United States as far as they 
have come to our notice. These notes have been compiled from 
published descriptions. It is probable that some of the species 
reported, such as those described by Montague from dried plants 
sent to him from Ohio by Sullivant, will never be identified. 
Except in the cases noted the illustrations are natural size 
and give the average for the species. We have given few meas- 
