NG CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Phyllophila means leaf and fond of. It is so called because it is found
on leaves in the woods during wet weather.

The pileus is one and a half to three inches in diameter, whitish-tan,
rather fleshy, convex, then plane, at length depressed, even, dry,
noticeably white around the margin.

The gills are attached to the stem, decurrent especially after the cap
is depressed, somewhat distant, rather broad, white, becoming yellowish
or ocher tinged, thin.

The stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, becoming hollow, silky,
rather tough, whitish. The spores are elliptical., 6x4u.

The whitish-tan cap with its white, silvery zone near the margin will
serve to identify the species. August to October.

_Clitocybe cyathiformis. Bull._

THE CUP-SHAPED CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Cyathiformis is from _cyathus_, a drinking cup; _formis_, form or shape.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin; at first
depressed, then funnel-shaped; even, smooth, moist, hygrophanous; the
margin involute, sooty or dark brown when moist, becoming pale when dry,
often dingy ochraceous or tan-color, inclined to be wavy.

The gills are attached to the stem, decurrent from the depressed form of
the pileus, united behind, somewhat dingy, sparingly branched.

The stem is stuffed, elastic, tapering upward, fibrillose, base villous.
The spores are elliptical, 9x6u.

This plant has a wide distribution and is found in woods or wood
margins. I found some very fine specimens on Ralston's Run, near
Chillicothe. September to October.

_Clitocybe laccata. Scop._

WAXY CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 76.--Clitocybe laccata. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps violet or reddish-brown. Gills broad and distant.]

Laccata means made of shellac or sealing-wax. This is a very common,
variable plant. Sometimes of a bright amethyst but usually of a reddish
brown. The pileus is from one to two inches broad, almost membranaceous,
convex, then plane, depressed in the center, downy with short hairs,
violet or reddish-brown.

The gills are broad, distant, attached to the stem by the entire width;
pale fleshy-red in hue which is more constant than the color of the cap
and which forms an ear-mark to tell the species; adnate with a decurrent
tooth, plane, the white spores being very abundant.

The stem is tough, fibrous, stuffed, crooked, white-villous at the base,
rather long and slender, dull reddish yellow or