The moist pileus is sometimes obscurely zonate. The odor is not always perceptible unless the pileus is moist or broken. The stem is sometimes compressed at the top only, sometimes at the base only, and rarely it is wholly top-shaped. Peck, 33d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Found on open lots in West Philadelphia. Though small it usually grows in troops which yield fair quantity. The caps are tender and of good flavor.
C. fra´grans Sow.—fragrans, fragrant. Smell strong, spicy. Pileus about 1 in. across. Flesh rather thick; convex, soon expanded and slightly depressed or umbilicate, even, glabrous, hygrophanous, uniform watery-white, disk not darker, whitish when dry. Gills slightly decurrent, rather crowded, 1 line broad, distinct, whitish. Stem about 2 in. long, equal, slightly curved, elastic, glabrous, whitish, stuffed then hollow.
In woods among moss, etc.
Distinguished from other species resembling it in color and size, by the fragrant smell resembling aniseed. Massee.
Spores 6×4µ. W.G.S.
Found in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. July to severe frosts. McIlvaine.
Edible. The strong taste of anise is not lost in cooking.
C. pino´phila—pine loving. Pileus thin, convex, umbilicate or centrally depressed, glabrous, moist, pale tan-color, paler or alutaceous when dry. Gills moderately close, subarcuate, adnate or slightly decurrent, whitish. Stem equal, stuffed or hollow, glabrous or subpruinose, colored like the pileus. Spores nearly elliptical, 4–6µ long; odor and taste resembling that of fresh meal.
Plant 1–2 in. high. Pileus about 1 in. broad. Stem 1–2 lines thick.