Redman’s Woods, Haddonfield, N.J. September, 1894. McIlvaine.
This species is included in Amanita by Fries and Stevenson. Massee places it in Lepiota. In the dozen or more specimens I have found, there was no trace of a volva, even when very young. I tested it carefully and at one time ate three good-sized caps without experiencing any indications of poison. I have seen it during but one season and not then (at one time) in sufficient quantity to make a meal off it. Cooked it has a slight cheesy flavor which is pleasant.
L. illi´nita Fr.—illino, to smear over. Pileus rather thin, soft, at first ovate, then campanulate or expanded, subumbonate, smooth, white, very viscid or glutinous, even or striate on the margin. Gills close, free, white. Stem equal or slightly tapering upward, stuffed or hollow, viscid, white. Spores broadly elliptical, 5×4µ broad.
Plant 2–4 in. high. Pileus 1–2.5 in. broad. Stem 2–3 lines thick.
Thin or open woods. Adirondack mountains. July to September.
This is a smooth white species with the stem and pileus clothed with a clear viscid or glutinous veil. The margin of the pileus is often even, but the typical form of the species has it striate. The flesh is soft and white. The species may be distinguished from the viscid white species of Hygrophorus by the free, not adnate nor decurrent lamellæ. Peck, 35th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Springton and Mt. Gretna, Pa., 1887–1897. McIlvaine.
Not yet found by me in quantity. Several specimens eaten were of good flavor.
L. rugulo´sa Pk. Pileus thin, submembranaceous, broadly convex or nearly plane, umbonate, rugulose, widely striate on the margin, whitish. Lamellæ thin, narrow, close, free, whitish. Stem short, equal, slightly silky, whitish, the annulus thin, persistent, white. Spores elliptic, 7.5µ long, 4µ broad.
Pileus 12–20 mm. broad. Stem about 2.5 cm. long, 2 mm. thick.