This is allied to A. gracilis Fr., but the edge of the gills is not rosy. When drying the moisture leaves the disk of the pileus first, the margin last. When dry the plant bears some resemblance to large forms of A. tener. Under a lens the texture of the surface of the pileus is seen to be composed of matted fibrils. Peck, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, on ground about houses and stables, often in barn yards, after they have been cleaned out and are empty for the summer. McIlvaine.
The whitish-edged gills with entire absence of rosiness on gill edges distinguish this species from P. gracilis Fr. It is frequent but not plentiful. Often a pint can be gathered. It has a fine mushroom flavor, resembling the delicate forms of Coprinus.
P. atoma´ta Fr.—atomatus, atomate. Pileus ½-1 in. broad, livid, when dry becoming pale tan or pale flesh-color, sometimes reddish, hygrophanous, membranaceous, bell-shaped, obtuse, slightly striate, when dry without striæ, slightly wrinkled, sprinkled with shining atoms. Stem 2 in. long, almost 1 line thick, tubular, equal, not rooted, lax, slightly bent (not tense and straight), white and white pulverulent at the apex. Gills adnate, broad, ventricose, slightly distinct, whitish, but cinereous-blackish with the black spores. Fries.
Solitary or gregarious. Pileus changing like A. gracilis from livid to whitish and rose-color, but more fragile. Stevenson.
Spores elliptical, 10×4µ Massee; 14×9µ W.G.S.; 11×8µ Morgan.
Chester county, Pa., June to September. McIlvaine.
Several specimens were eaten. In flavor they could not be distinguished from C. micaceus. The scarcity and small size of the species make it of little value, save as a flavoring.
