Cap 1–2 in. across. Stem 2–4 in. long, ¼-⅜ in. thick, stuffed then hollow.
West Virginia, 1881–1885, Haddonfield, N.J.; Pennsylvania. On stumps, roots and ground in woods, etc. McIlvaine. Not reported elsewhere.
Its habit is the same as H. fascicularis, to which it is closely allied, and to me seems but a form of this very variable species. It is equally good.
H. sublateri´tium Schaeff.—sub and later, a brick. (Plate [XCVII], fig. 3, p. 352.) Pileus 2–3 in. and more broad, tawny-brick-red, but paler round the margin and covered over with a superficial, somewhat silky, whitish cloudiness (arising from the veil), fleshy, convexo-plane, obtuse, discoid, dry, even, becoming smooth. Flesh compact, white, then becoming yellow. Stem 3–4 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, stuffed, stout and firm, commonly manifestly attenuated downward, rarely equal, scaly-fibrillose, fibrils pallid, rust-colored downward. Cortina superior, at first white, at length becoming black. Gills adnate, more or less crowded according to stature, narrow, at first dingy yellowish and darker at the base, then sooty, and at length inclining to olivaceous.
Spores brownish purple. Somewhat cespitose. Stem incurved from position. There are many varieties: B, somewhat solitary, the pileus and stem, which is thickened at the base, of the same color, reddish. C, smaller, pileus light yellowish, the hollow stem equal. Schaeff.
Var. squamo´sum, Cooke. Pileus convex, bright brick-red, shading to yellow at the margin, spotted with superficial scales. Flesh very thick, yellowish. Gills narrowish, adnate. Stem elongated, stout, pale above, rust-colored below, hollow, veil hanging from the margin when young.
On trunks. A very beautiful variety, larger and more robust than the typical form. Massee.
Spores 6×3µ. W.G.S.; elliptical, sooty-brown, 8×4µ Massee.
West Virginia, 1881–1885; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, densely cespitose on stumps and roots. October to long after frosts. McIlvaine.
Edible. Dr. Taylor, 1893. Dept. of Agr. Rep. No. 5.