H. fascicula´ris Huds.—fasciculus, a small bundle. (Plate [XCVIII], p. 352.) Pileus about 2 in. broad, light yellow, the disk commonly darker, fleshy, thin, convex, then flattened, somewhat umbonate or obtuse, even, smooth, dry. Flesh light yellow. Stem very variable in length, hollow, thin, incurved or flexuous, fibrillose, of the same color as the pileus and flesh. Gills adnate, very crowded, linear, somewhat deliquescent, sulphur-yellow then becoming green.
It is very easily distinguished from the preceding species by its bitter odor and taste, light-yellow flesh, and somewhat deliquescent, sulphur-yellow then green gills. It forms also more crowded clusters. There are many remarkable varieties; one robustior (more robust), stem thickened at the base, another nana (dwarf), both on the ground.
Cespitose on old stumps and the ground. Extremely common. Stevenson.
Spores elliptical, 7×4µ Massee; 6–7×4µ K.; 6×4µ W.G.S.; ferruginous purple, 6×4µ Morgan.
“It is very usual to regard this as a poisonous species, but possibly it is not so in reality.” Cooke.
West Virginia, 1881, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, McIlvaine.
A very common species appearing in October and lasting until well into the winter, growing in large, overlapping masses or in tufts from old stumps or roots, and about trees where decay has begun. Sometimes solitary. It is then short-stemmed and sturdy. There are several closely allied species. To know the one from the other, a careful study of the group is necessary. (See introduction to genus, [H. epixanthum], [H. sublateritium], [H. capnoides], [H. elæodes], and [H. perplexum].) Old authors give it as bitter and poisonous. The bitter is not always present. Any there is disappears in cooking. It is not poisonous, but one of our most valuable species. I have eaten it since 1881. A little lemon juice or sherry will cover the slightly saponaceous taste sometimes present. The caps only are good. It makes a choice pickle and a good catsup.
H. epixan´thum Fr. Gr—epixanthos, yellowish-brown. Pileus 2–3 in. broad, light-yellow or becoming pale, the disk commonly darker, fleshy, moderately thin, convexo-plane, obtuse or gibbous, even, slightly silky then becoming smooth. Flesh white, becoming light-yellow. Stem about 8 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, hollow, attenuated from the thickened base or equal; floccose-fibrillose, pale rust color or becoming dingy-brown below, with a frosty bloom at the apex; veil hanging from margin of pileus, white. Gills adnate, crowded, at first light yellow-white, at length becoming ash-colored, not deliquescent, and not becoming purple or green.
Strong smelling, odor acid; extremely variable in stature; not hygrophanous. Fries.
Spores elliptical, 7×4µ Massee.