Denudati (denudo, to lay bare). Page [286].
Pileus smooth. Veil absent. None known to be edible.
Pusillus (pusus, a little boy).
Pileus scarcely an inch broad. None known to be edible.
The writer has not as yet investigated the edible qualities of this genus to his satisfaction. Much work remains to be done. But two species of Hebeloma are given as edible. They are good, but do not rank above second-class. Several others have been tested, but not in sufficient quantity to report upon their quality with perfect safety. So far as tested the species have been harmless.
Indusia´ti. With a ring, etc.
H. mus´sivum Fr.—mussivus, undecided. (Uncertain in generic place.) Pileus 2–4 in. broad, either of one color, yellow or darker at the disk which is like a smooth sugar-cake, fleshy, compact, firm, convex then plane, unequal, very obtuse, viscid, at first smooth and even, margin bent inward, even, then commonly turning upward and broken up into scales. Flesh thick, becoming yellow. Stem 4 in. long, commonly 1 in. thick, very fleshy, sometimes stuffed, sometimes hollow at the top, equal or broad in the middle, wholly fibrillose and powdered at the top, light yellow. Veil fibrillose, very evanescent. Gills emarginate, somewhat crowded, 3 lines broad, dry (not distilling drops), at first light yellow, then together with the spores somewhat rust-colored.
Odor weak, not unpleasant. Very distinct. It departs widely from all the following species in its habit and bright colors. The habit is that of a Flammula or Cortinarius, but the gills are emarginate and not powdered; from the turned up pileus and from the stem being powdered at the top, and from other marks it is to be referred to Hebeloma. Fries.
Spores elliptical, 12×6µ Massee.
New Jersey, Haddonfield. Under pine trees. Solitary. Frequent. September, 1896. McIlvaine.