Allied to V. bombycina, but constantly different in the less ample and less persistent, brownish volva. Pileus 3 in. across, rarely more, gray, elegantly virgate with blackish fibrils; flesh-color of the gills not so pure. Fries.
Once found in woods at roots of a tree. It occurs every year in the cellar of our drug store. Lloyd “Volvæ.”
North Carolina, Schweinitz; Minnesota, Johnson; Ohio, Morgan.
Probably edible, should be carefully tested.
V. Tay´lori Berk. Pileus 1¾ in. high and broad, livid, conico-campanulate, obtuse, striately cracked from the apex, thin, margin lobed and sinuated. Stem 2½ in. long, ¼ in. thick, pallid, solid, nearly equal, slightly bulbous at the base. Volva date-brown, lobed, somewhat lax, small. Gills uneven, broad in front, very much attenuated behind, rose-color.
Pileus beautifully penciled and cracked. The dark volva, bell-shaped pileus, and uneven, attenuated gills are marked characters. The habit is rather that of some Entoloma than of its more immediate allies. Fries.
Spores 6×9µ W.G.S.; broadly elliptical, smooth, 5×3.5–4µ Massee.
Indiana, Mrs. L.H. Cox; West Philadelphia, in much decayed stump of maple. McIlvaine.
Caps 1½-2 in. across and beautifully penciled and cracked. Stem 1½-3 in. long. Gills up to ⅓ in. wide. The spores when shed in body are a beautiful maroon. Resembling V. volvacea, but lighter in color, and having a brown volva. Specimens sent me by J.J. Newbaker, Steelton, Pa., had snow-white caps and when young were velvety to the touch. Gills tinged with pink; volva dark brown.
The few specimens eaten were of good flavor, somewhat resembling Pluteus cervinus.