Orcellus is a diminutive meaning a small cask; from orca, a cask.
The pileus is fleshy, soft, plane, or slightly depressed, often irregular, even when young; slightly silky, somewhat viscid when moist; white or yellowish-white, flesh white, taste and odor farinaceous.
The gills are deeply decurrent, close, whitish, then flesh-color.
The stem is short, solid, flocculose, often eccentric, thickened above. The spores are elliptical, 9–10×5µ. Peck, 42d Rep. N. Y.
This plant resembles the Plum mushroom, C. prunulus, very closely in appearance, taste and odor, but it is considerably smaller. It grows in wet weather, in open fields and lawns. It is quite widely distributed in our state, having found it in Salem, Bowling Green, Sidney, and Chillicothe. I frequently find it associated with Marasmius oreades. The specimens in Figure 201 were found near Ashville, N. C., and were photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee. Found from July to October.
Clitopilus abortivus. B. and C.
The Abortive Clitopilus. Edible.
Figure 202.—Clitopilus abortivus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the grayish-brown cap and solid stem.