Grassy places. Menands. Albany county. September. Edible. Resembling Armillaria mellea, but distinguished from it by the absence of a collar from the stem, by the more decidedly decurrent lamellæ and by the solid stem. It is also more agreeable in flavor. It is related to C. illudens in habit and manner of growth. Peck, 51st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Spores 8×5µ Peck.
October 15, 1898. Identified by Professor Peck. September until frost.
Grows in great clusters about roots, etc., at Mt. Gretna. Frequently much water-soaked and uninviting. Taste variable, sometimes strong, woody.
It is edible, but care should be exercised in collecting to get young, fresh groups.
C. socia´lis Fr.—socius, a companion. Pileus about 1 in. broad, pale-yellowish with a reddish tinge, fleshy, convex then expanded, acutely umbonate especially when young, even, smooth, dry. Flesh moderately thin, white. Stem 1 in. long, 2 lines or a little more thick, solid, fibrous, commonly ascending, smooth, reddish, the rooting base hairy. Gills plano-decurrent, scarcely crowded, becoming yellow. Fries.
A very pretty species, densely gregarious, inodorous. The stem is sheathed-hairy at the base like Marasmius peronatus. Its greatest affinity is with A. vernicosus, of which it is perhaps a variety. Stevenson.
Quite common in pine woods of New Jersey. Though small, goodly messes of it may be gathered from its patches. The caps make a pleasing dish.
None reported as tested for edibility.