C. robus´ta Pk.—robustus, stout. Pileus thick, firm, at first convex, soon plane or slightly depressed in the center, glabrous, white, the margin at first involute or decurved, naked. Flesh white. Gills narrow, close, decurrent, whitish. Stem stout, rather short, solid, glabrous, equal or slightly tapering upward, often with a bulbous base, white. Spores elliptical, 8×4–5µ.
Pileus 3–4 in. broad. Stem 1–2 in. long, 8–12 lines thick.
Woods among fallen leaves. Catskill mountains. September to November.
This large and robust fungus is closely allied to C. candida Bres., from which it differs in the naked margin of the pileus, the absence of any marked odor and especially in the more elliptical shape of its spores. The same plant has been collected in Maryland by Mr. L.J. Atwater, who considers it edible, having eaten it with satisfaction and safety. Peck, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
This fungus is quite plentiful in Pennsylvania and in open oak woods in New Jersey. Its size and sometimes gregarious growth give it a permanent food value. Its texture is coarse, but when cooked it is highly satisfactory.
C. gallina´cea Scop.—gallina, a hen. Application not apparent. White; acrid. Pileus 1–1½ in. across, rather fleshy at the disk, margin thin; convex then depressed, but not funnel-shaped, even, dry, opaque. Gills slightly decurrent, narrow, crowded, thin. Stem about 1½ in. long, 2 lines thick, equal, even, solid. Among grass, moss, etc.
Resembling C. dealbata in form, but smaller, opaque, dingy-white, taste somewhat acrid. Stem solid, but not cartilaginous, about 2 in. long, equal, ascending or flexuous, excentric, at first floccosely mealy, always opaque, white. Pileus slightly fleshy, convex then plane, not depressed, obtuse, ½-1 in. broad, unequal, dry, pruinosely hoary; flesh white, compact, but thin. Gills adnato-decurrent, thin, crowded, plane. Fries.
It loses its acridity in cooking and is quite equal to C. dealbata.
C. trunci´cola Pk.—truncus, trunk of a tree. Pileus thin, firm, expanded or slightly depressed in the center, smooth, dry, white. Gills narrow, thin, crowded, adnate-decurrent. Stem equal, stuffed, smooth, often excentric and curved, whitish.
Plant 1 in. high. Pileus 1 in. broad. Stem 1 line thick.