ost membranaceous, and watery when moist; margin incurved or
straight. Stem cartilaginous and hollow, often stuffed when young,
continuous with the cap but different in character. Gills decurrent and
sometimes branched.

They are generally found on wood, preferring a damp woody situation and
a wet season. It is easily distinguished from Collybia and Mycena by its
decurrent gills. In some of the species of the Mycena where the gills
are slightly decurrent, the pileus is not centrally depressed as it is
in corresponding species of Omphalia. There are a few species of
Omphalia whose pileus is not centrally depressed but whose gills are
plainly decurrent.

_Omphalia campanella. Batsch._

THE BELL OMPHALIA. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Plate XVII. Figure 97.--Omphalia campanella.]

Campanella means a little bell.

The pileus is membranaceous, convex to extended, centrally depressed,
striate, watery, rusty-yellow in color.

The gills are moderately close, decurrent, bow-shaped, connected by
veins, rigid, firm, yellowish. The spores elliptical, 6-7x3-4u.

The stem is hollow, clothed with down, and paler above.

This plant is very common and plentiful in our woods and is widely
distributed in the states. It grows on wood or on ground very heavily
charged with decaying wood. It is found through the summer and fall. It
is delicious if you have the patience to gather them.

_Omphalia epichysia. Pers._

The pileus is thin, convex to expanded, depressed in the center,
sooty-gray with a watery appearance, pallid to nearly white when dry.

The gills are slightly decurrent, whitish then gray, somewhat crowded.

The stem is slender, hollow, gray. The spores are elliptical,
8-10x4-5u.

It grows in decayed wood. Its smoky color, funnel-shaped pileus, and
gray short stem will distinguish it. I have some plants sent me from
Massachusetts which seem to be much smaller than our plants.

_Omphalia umbellifera. Linn._

THE UMBEL OMPHALIA. EDIBLE.

Umbellifera--_umbella_, a small shade; _ferro_, to bear. Pileus one-half
inch broad, membranaceous, whitish, convex, then plane, broadly obconic,
slightly umbilicate even in the smallest plants, hygrophanous in wet
weather, rayed with darker striae.

The gills are decurrent, very distant, quite broad behind, triangular,
with straight edges.

The stem is short, not more than one inch long, dilated at the apex, of
same color as the pileus, at first stu