This species does not seem to be common in America, but is found throughout Europe. It varies in size from 3 in. to over 3 feet. It has been known to attain the circumference of 7 ft. 5 in., and the weight of 40 lbs. Dr. Badham says that it can not be masticated and that its expressed juice is very disagreeable. The fact, however, remains that it is eaten, and is recorded as edible by most authors. It is undoubtedly tough, but cut fine and stewed slowly for half an hour it is quite as tender as the muscle of an oyster and has a pleasant flavor.
P. pi´cipes Fr.—pix, pitch; pes, a foot. Pallid then chestnut, commonly pale yellowish-livid, with the disk chestnut. Pileus fleshy-coriaceous, then rigid, tough, even, smooth, depressed at the disk or behind. Flesh white. Stem excentric and lateral, equal, firm, at first velvety, then naked, dotted, black up to the pores. Pores decurrent, round, very small, rather slender, white, then slightly pale yellowish. Fries.
Imbricated, odor somewhat sweet. The pileus is depressed behind, commonly emarginate, funnel-shaped with lobes all round.
On trunks, especially willow. Frequent. July to December. Stevenson.
Many young plants, in tufts upon a decaying oak log, were found by me at Mt. Gretna, August, 1899. They were oyster-color, the very thin caps translucent, 2–6 in. across, 1⁄16 in. thick; pores not visible to the naked eye. The black dots upon the stems developed some time after gathering.
They were pleasantly crisp when stewed and of fine flavor. Older specimens were bitter and tough.
III.—Merisma.
P. umbella´tus Fr.—umbella, a sun-shade. Very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish. Pileoli very numerous, ½-1½ in. broad, sooty, dull-red or pallid light-yellow, entire, umbilicate. Stems elongated, separate, united at the base, white. Pores minute, white.
The pileoli have occurred white. Fries.
Edible. Fries.