C. can´dicans Pers.—candico, to be shining white. Entirely white. Pileus about 1 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane or slightly depressed, umbilicate, regular or slightly excentric, even, with an adpressed silkiness, shining, shining white when dry. Gills adnate then slightly decurrent, crowded, very thin, narrow, straight. Stem 1–2 in. long, 1–2 lines thick, even, glabrous, cartilaginous, polished, equal, hollow, base incurved, rooting, downy. Spores broadly elliptical or subglobose, 5–6×4µ. Massee.
Among damp fallen leaves, etc.
Entirely white, small, rather tough; approaching Omphalia in the structure of the stem. The following form is described by Fries as occurring in pine woods: Stem thin, flexuous, base glabrous; pileus plane, not umbilicate, naked (without silky down). Gills scarcely decurrent.
A remarkable form but scarcely to be separated as a species. Fries.
Quite common in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. The caps are excellent when well cooked.
C. dealba´ta Sow.—dealbo, to whitewash. Pileus about 1 in. or a little more broad, white, slightly fleshy, tough, convex then plane and at length revolute and undulated, always dry (not watery in rainy weather), even, smooth, somewhat shining, but as if innately pruinose under a lens. Flesh thin, arid, white. Stem 1 in. long, 2 lines thick, stuffed, wholly fibrous, at length also tubed, equal, but often ascending, whitish, mealy at the apex. Gills adnate, scarcely decurrent, thin, crowded, white.
Pileus sometimes orbicular, sometimes upturned and wavy. Odor weak, pleasant, but not very remarkable. Most distinct from A. candicans in the nature of the stem.
Edible. Its top is exceedingly like ivory. Its charming flavor is exceeded by very few other fungi. Stevenson.
Among leaves and grass. Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia.
This charming fungus is common over the land. I have known it since 1881, and found it from North Carolina to West Virginia.