In mixed woods in which Kalmia latifolia is plentiful. The specimens found were in its vicinity. The caps are excellent.
B. leptoceph´alus Pk. Gr—thin; Gr—head. Pileus thin, broadly convex or nearly plane, dry, minutely cracked, especially near the margin, light tawny-brown, sometimes tinged with reddish-brown. Flesh yellowish-white, taste at first mild, then slightly acrid. Tubes subventricose, depressed about the stem, nearly free, dingy olive-yellow, the mouths small, subrotund. Stem nearly equal, enlarged at the top, solid, glabrous or slightly pruinose-mealy, reticulated above, colored like the pileus, white within, with a white mycelium at the base. Spores greenish-olivaceous, fusiform, 12.5–17.5µ long, 5–6µ broad.
Pileus 10–12.5 cm. broad. Stem 10–12.5 cm. long, 1.2–1.6 cm. thick.
Dry, open woods. July. Earle.
The reticulation of the upper part of the stem appears to be formed by the decurrent walls of the tubes. The species belongs to the tribe Edules. Peck, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, Vol. 25.
Edible.
B. fra´grans Vitt.—fragrant. Fasciculate or solitary. Pileus 1–4 in. across, convex, dark-brown or umber-brown, often wavy, slightly tomentose, margin incurved. Flesh very thick, yellowish, sometimes unchangeable, at others changing to green or blue, and finally becoming reddish when broken. Tubes shortened around the stem and almost free, ½ in. or more long, openings small, roundish, yellow then greenish. Stem at first stout, ovate, usually tapering at the base, then lengthening and becoming thinner upward, even, variegated with yellow and red, solid. Spores pale-olive, elongato-fusiform, 10–12×4µ.
In woods, under oaks, etc. Pileus bronze-brown, sometimes with purple shades. Often grows in dense clusters, and in this particular differing from any other British species. Very good for eating. Massee.
Haddonfield, N.J. Oak woods. August to September, 1894. Mt. Gretna, Pa., 1898. McIlvaine.
Solitary. A handsome valuable species which appears to be rare in the United States. Shade a beautiful bronze. Cap 3–4 in. across. A dozen or more individuals were found and eaten. Excellent.