GALE´RA Fr.
Galerus, a cap.
Pileus more or less membranaceous, conical or oval, then expanded, striate, margin at the first straight, then adpressed to the stem. Gills not decurrent. Stem somewhat cartilaginous, continuous with the pileus, but differing in texture, tubular. Veil none or fibrillose. Spores tawny-ochraceous.
Slender, fragile, generally growing on the ground.
Galera corresponds with Mycena, Nolanea, Psathyra and Psathyrella, which are distinguished by their spore colors. In the brown-spored series Naucoria is separated by the margin of the pileus being at first incurved, and Tubaria by the decurrent gills.
The genus is composed of small species, but many grow in clusters, and are of a consistency which decreases but little in quick cooking. Those tested are delicate in texture and flavor.
G. lateri´tia Fr.—later, a brick. Pileus 1 in. high, pale yellowish when moist, ochraceous when dry, hygrophanous, membranaceous, acorn-shaped then bell-shaped, obtuse, even, smooth, slightly and densely striate at the margin when moist. Stem 3 in. and more long, 1 line thick, tubular, attenuated upward, tense and straight, even, but white-pruinose, whitish. Gills adnexed in the top of the cone, hence appearing as if free, ascending, very narrow, crowded, cinnamon.
Gills almost adpressed to the stem, almost pendulous. Remarkably analogous with A. ovalis, but easily distinguished by the linear gills and the absence of a veil; very fragile. Fries.
Spores 11×5µ W.P.; 11–12×5–6µ Massee.
West Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania. On dung and rich pastures. June to frost. McIlvaine.