By the elongation of the stem the thin membrane which separates the stipe from the pileus is torn into shreds and the pileus is thus liberated from the stipe except at the apex. Morgan.
West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Summer and autumn. McIlvaine.
P. impudicus makes itself known wherever it grows. The stench of the full-grown plant is aggravatingly offensive, attracting blow-flies in quantities, and the carrion beetle Necrophorus Americanus. It is common over the United States, in woods, open fence corners, along road-sides, but a favorite abode is in kitchen yards and under wooden steps, where, when mature, it will compel the household to seek it in self-defense. It is a beautiful plant.
When in the egg-shape it is white or light dull-green, semi-gelatinous, tenacious and elastic. As many as a dozen sometimes grow in a bunch, each from a peculiar white, cord-like root or mycelium. They look, when young, like bubbles of some thick substance. In this condition they are very good when fried. They demand to be eaten at this time, if at any.
GENUS II.—MUTI´NUS Fr.
Stipe hollow within, the wall composed of a single layer of round-celled tissue. Pileus wholly adnate to the summit of the stipe, the gleba occupying its outer surface. Morgan.
Distinguished from Ithyphallus by the cap being adnate to the receptacle.
Mutinus caninus.
(After Massee and Morgan.)