The plant was originally described by Schweinitz as Agarieus rhodoxanthus (Syn. Car. 
No. 640.) and in Syn. Am. Bor, (No. 256.) he included it in the genus Gomphvs (Gomphidius of 
recent nomenclature.) Fries (Epic. 1st ed., p. 326.) referred it to Hygrophorus leporinus, no 
doubt on the strength of dried specimens received from Schweinitz. It has little resemblance 
to Cooke’s figure of this species, but the figure of H. hypothejus, were the gills more yellow and 
the stem punctate with minute brown scales, could be taken for it. However, it is no Hygro¬ 
phorus, the gills are not at all Avaxy. 
Berkeley describes it from dried specimens sent by Lea, as Paxillus flavidus. There 
are some discrepancies in his dascription, but it is without doubt the plant he had in view. It 
is not “viscid,” nor are the gills “forked at the base.” Moreover it is not a Paxillus, for the 
gills are not readily separable from the pileus. Nor is it a Gomphidius, for it has no universal 
glutinous veil, nor does it agree either in color or shape of the spores. 
It is a frequent plant around Cincinnati, and mimics Boletus subtomentosus so closely 
both in color and shape of top of pileus of young plants, that we cannot distinguish them until 
we pick them up and examine the under side. Prof. Peck (23th Rep.) states “the pileus is not 
alAA r ays red, but varies sometimes toward yelloAV, sometimes toAvard brown.” With us it is 
aHvays brown. 
38— VOLVARIA BOMBYCINA. 
Pileus white or slightly fuscous, fleshy, soft, campanu- 
late then expanded, covered with silky fibers which become 
when old somewhat squamulose. Gills free, remote, flesh 
colored. Stipe solid, slightly attenuated upward, even, 
smooth, white. Volva large, thick, irregularly ruptured, per¬ 
sistent at the base of the stipe. Spores elliptic 6x8 me. 
This plant is frequent though not abundant. It mostly grows on maple and is fre¬ 
quently found on the decaying Avood around a sugar tap. We have seen it on beech. It is the 
largest species of the family. The volva is large and thick and it is not unusual to find the 
young plant entirely enclosed in the volva, looking like a young phalloid. Stevenson states it 
is “considered edible,” but we Avould be suspicious of it, especially as most Volvarias are re¬ 
puted poisonous. We present two photographs of the plant, an upper and under view, and 
from these photographs no one can mistake it. 
39— VOLVARIA VOLVACEA. 
Pileus campanulate, than expanded, cinereous, covered 
with fine dark,, appressed silky fibrils. Stipe solid, white, 
smooth, equal. Gills free, flesh colored. Volva thick, irreg¬ 
ularly broken. Spores elliptic, 5x7 me. 
This is a much smaller plant than bombycina and groAA r s in the ground, usually in cel¬ 
lars, hot houses, Ac. We have collected it several years in the cellar of our drug store, and 
R. L. Hawkins has sent it to us from his drug store cellar. One year we found it in the Avoods. 
40—PLUTEOLUS COPROPHILUS. 
Pileus expanded, thin, brown, finely and thickly striate, 
excepting the ever depressed disk, slightly viscid when 
moist. Flesh very thin with a slight pink tinge. . Gills free, 
narrow, pale cinnamon color. Stipe long, smooth, glabrous, 
hollow, pure white. Spores broadly elliptical, 9x11 me. 
Prof. Peck describes this plant from “dung heaps” and calls it “dung-loving Pluteolus.” 
We have found it growing abundantly in rotten straw around straw stacks A\ r hich Avas free 
from manure It is usually caespitose, and we have seen clumps Avhere it has dried in situ. 
From our conversation with Prof. Morgan Ave believe his description of Bolbitius radians was 
drawn from this plant. We have never seen it hoAvever, Avith the ••pellicle broken into 
scales on the disk.” 
41—BOLBITIUS SORDIDUS. 
Pileus ovate when young, explanate when mature, thin, 
pure snowy white when young, sordid when old, glutinous, 
hygrophanous, margin smooth and even when young, plicate 
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