Tapi´nia.
Paxillus involutus.
One-half natural size.
P. involu´tus (Batsch) Fr.—involutus, rolled inward. Pileus 2–5 in. broad, fleshy, compact, convexo-plane then depressed, smooth, viscid when moist, shining when dry, yellowish or tawny-ochraceous, strongly involute, margin densely downy, flesh pallid. Stem 2–4 in. high, about ½ in. thick, solid, firm, paler than the pileus, central or eccentric. Gills 2–3 lines broad, crowded, branched, anastomosing, forming pores behind, whitish then yellowish or rusty, spotting when bruised.
Spores rust-color, ellipsoid or oblong-ellipsoid 8–16×6µ K.; 5×6µ W.G.S. Elliptical, 8–10µ Peck.
It grows singly or in groups and likes damp mossy soil. Common in cool hemlock or spruce woods in the Adirondack mountains; not rare in the mixed woods of all our hilly districts. When growing on decayed stumps the stem is sometimes eccentric. August, November. C.H. Peck.
In open woods near Haddonfield, N.J., it grows to a large size and in quantity. In Angora woods near Philadelphia a complete ring of it 20 ft. in diameter was seen.
Considered edible throughout Europe and said to be highly esteemed in Russia. The flesh of the American plant is dry and coarse, does not cook tender and is rather tasteless.
P. a´tro-tomento´sus (Batsch.) Fr.—ater, black; tomentum, down. Pileus 3–6 in. broad, rust-color or reddish-brown, compactly fleshy, eccentric, convex then plane or depressed, margin thin, frequently minutely rivulose, sometimes tomentose in the center. Flesh white. Stem 3–6 in. high, ½-1 in. thick, stout, solid, elastic, eccentric or lateral, unequal rooting, covered with dense velvety down, very dark brown. Gills adnate, 3 lines broad, close, anastomosing at the base, yellowish, interspaces venose.