stuffed, sometimes thickened below, (sometimes not, see 
photograph), frequently enlarged below into a bulb-like swell¬ 
ing, like “ cepsestipes.” Spores white, subelliptical, 5x7 me. 
The fresh plant turns red when bruised or cut; it also dries red, and turns 
alcohol red into which it is placed. It is of wide distribution from Louisiana, 
(Father Langlois) north and east It is a common plant in the late summer at 
Cincinnati. Sometimes we find it in the grass, then it is frequently large. 
Usually it grows at base of stumps and rarely on decaying wood. I am strongly of 
the opinion that it is the same plant known as rachodes in Europe, though no 
one would suspect it from Cooke’s plate. Some figures such as Price and Barla 
closely approximate it. I presume the early records of “rachodes” from this 
country are based on this plant. I have sent dried specimens to two of the lead¬ 
ing mycologists of Europe. One states “It is unlike any species we have in 
Europe, and I consider a good species.” The other, “It is identical with Lepi- 
ota Badhami, Berk, and to Lepiota rachodes of most authors, but scarcely as 
described by Vittadina, which according to his description has not yet been 
re-discovered.” 
Regarding the edible properties of the plant, there is no question of its 
wholesomeness, but its change of color makes an uninviting dish. 
9—LEPIOTA MELEAGR1S. 
Pileus explanate, obtuse, white, but covered with small 
brown scales. Flesh white, turning red spotted when cut or 
bruised, afterwards turning brown. Gills white, remote. 
Ring fragile, soon withering. Stem usually swollen below, 
stuffed, generally brown spotted. Spores, 4x7 me. 
This plant approximates the preceding in its properties of turning red 
when bruised, turning alcohol red, and drying reddish. It is however, a much 
smaller plant and occurs in rich leaf mold in the woods, where we rarely find 
Americana. It grows singly or three or four caespitose. The whole plant 
(especially when handled) is covered with brown spots which make it appear 
dirty and untidy. Below T the ring, the stipe is covered with loose white fibrils 
(more perhaps in the nature of pruinosity) which turn red quicker when bruised 
than any other part of the plant. The stipes are usually much swollen but some 
times very slightly as shown in Cooke’s figure and in our photograph. 
Our plant differs somewhat from the English description. The stem is not 
“ tinged with yellow.” The flesh does not change to a “ beautiful red” when cut 
but merely red spotted. Cooke’s figure show T s pileus and stipe covered with black 
scales; our stipe is destitute of scales and those of the pileus are brown. I do not 
believe that Stevenson’s description or Cooke’s figure applies to Sowerby’s original 
figure which show's much few r er and larger scales than our plant and the stipe is 
solid. I do not find any record that the plant is edible, though I do not 
question it, as all similar species are. 
10—LEPIOTA CEPSESTIPES. 
Pileus campanulate, or convex, even, save the margin 
which is usually striate or sulcate (sometimes however, not), 
pure white, or very slightly brownish only at the disk, cover¬ 
ed with large, loose, floccose, white scales, easily rubbed off 
Gills free, pure white, rather broad. Flesh thin, white. 
Stipe thickened at the base, tapering up, and slightly en¬ 
larged at the insertion in the pileus, white farinose but with 
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