The caps are fine.
H. lachrymabun´dum Fr.—lachryma, a tear. Pileus 2–3 in. broad, whitish when young, then dingy-brown, becoming pale around the margin, truly fleshy but not compact, convex, obtuse, scaly with hairs, the innate scales darker. Flesh white. Stem 2 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, hollow, somewhat thickened at the base, scaly with fibrils, becoming brownish-whitish. Veil separate, clothed with fibers, hanging from the pileus, white. Gills adnate, crowded, 3 lines broad, whitish then brownish-purple, edge whitish and distilling drops in wet weather.
Spores brownish-purple. From mutual pressure the caps are often irregular. Very cespitose, firm. Fries.
Spores brownish-purple, 9×4µ Massee.
On ground and on trunks. Truly cespitose. Smaller than H. velutinus, but firmer, truly fleshy, not hygrophanous. Bushy pastures. Bethlehem. October.
Our specimens do not agree in all respects with the published description of the species. The pileus is sometimes wholly destitute of scales and sometimes densely clothed with hairy, erect ones. The species is manifestly variable. Peck, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
“Like H. fascicularis in quality. Intensely irritant. It is bound with the weight of its own guilt.” Hay.
This is a good specimen of Hay’s comments. H. fascicularis is never irritant, is good eating, is innocent.
There is irony in the comment of Dr. Cooke: “This doubtful species is used by the smaller ketchup makers.”
I have not seen this species. When I do I shall eat it and expect to live.