Solitary, rarely gregarious.
Var. mi´nor Clem. Bot. Surv. of Neb. Univ. of Neb. Pileus .8–1.2 in., rarely 3.2 in. wide, .8–2 in. high. Stem .8–1.2 in., rarely 4 in. high, .6–1.4 in. wide; sporidia 15×10µ.
On shady ground. Otowanie woods, Lancaster county.
The prominent character in this species, as indicated by the name, is the sulcate stem. The furrows are very deep, and extend, without interruption, the entire length of the stem. The whole stem, as shown by a cross-section, is made up of the costæ intervening between these furrows. I do not find the stem “stuffed,” as required by the description in Syst. Myc., Vol. II, p. 15. The pileus is generally darker than that of H. crispa. Peck, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
On decaying wood, stumps, trunks. Spring until autumn.
Known to be edible. Peck.
H. elas´tica Bull.—elastic. Pileus free from the stem, drooping, 2–3 lobed, center depressed, even, whitish, brownish or sooty, almost smooth underneath, about 2 cm. broad. Stem 2–3.5 in. high, 3–5 lines thick at the inflated base; tapering upward, elastic, even or often more or less pitted, colored like the pileus, minutely velvety or furfuraceous, at first solid, then hollow. Spores hyaline, smooth, continuous, elliptical, ends obtuse, often 1-guttulate, 18–20×10–11µ; 1-seriate; paraphyses septate, clavate. Massee.
It is not uncommon to find the pileus attached in one or two points to the stem. Peck, 32d Rep.
Var. al´ba (Pers.) Sacc.
On decaying wood. August to frost.