E. clypea´tum Linn.—resembling a shield. Pileus as much as 3 in. broad, lurid when moist, when dry gray and variegated or streaked with darker spots or lines, fleshy, bell-shaped then flattened, umbonate, smooth, fragile. Flesh thin, white when dry. Stem almost 3 in. long, 3–4 lines and more thick, stuffed, at length hollow, wholly fibrous, equal, round, fragile, longitudinally fibrillose, becoming ash-colored, pulverulent at the very apex. Gills rounded-adnexed, separating-free, 3–4 lines broad, ventricose, somewhat distant, dingy, then red-pulverulent with the spores, serrulated at the edge chiefly behind.
It has occurred in May cespitose; better developed and solitary in the end of August.
In woods, gardens and waste places. Frequent. Spring, autumn. Stevenson.
North Carolina, Schweinitz, Curtis; Ohio, Morgan; New England, Frost; California, H. and M.; Rhode Island, Bennett; New York, Peck, Rep. 23.
POISONOUS. Leuba.
I have not seen this species. It should not be eaten before careful testing.
E. rhodopo´lium Fr. Gr—rose; Gr—gray. Pileus 2–5 in. broad, hygrophanous, when moist dingy-brown (young) or livid, becoming pale (when full grown), when dry isabelline-livid, silky-shining, slightly-fleshy, bell-shaped when young, then expanded and somewhat umbonate or gibbous, at length rather plane and sometimes depressed, fibrillose when young, smooth when full grown, margin at the first bent inwards and when larger undulated. Flesh white. Stem 2–4 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, hollow, equal when smaller, when larger attenuated upwards and white-pruinate at the apex, otherwise smooth, slightly striate, white. Gills adnate then separating, somewhat sinuate, slightly distant, 2–4 lines broad, white then rose-color. Fries.
Fragile, commonly large and often handsome, almost inodorous.
In mixed woods. Frequent. August to October.
Spores pretty regular, 8–10×6–8µ B.; 7µ W.G.S.