Figure 251.—Agaricus silvicola. One-half natural size.
Silvicola, from silva, woods and colo, to inhabit. The pileus is convex, sometimes expanded or nearly plane, smooth, shining, white or yellowish.
The gills are crowded, thin, free, rounded behind, generally narrowed toward each end, at first white, then pinkish, finally blackish-brown.
The stem is long, cylindrical, stuffed or hollow, white, bulbous; ring either thick or thin, entire or lacerated. Spores elliptical, 6–8×4–5. The plant is four to six inches high. Pileus three to six inches broad. Peck. 36th N. Y. State Bot.
A. silvicola is very closely related to the common mushroom. Its chief differences are in its place of growth, its being slender, and its hollow stem somewhat bulbous at the base. I have found it many times in the woods about Chillicothe, although I have never succeeded in finding more than one or two at a time. I have always put them with edible species and have eaten them when thus cooked with others.
Because of the resemblance which it bears, in its earlier stages, to the deadly Amanita, one can not exercise too great care in identifying it. It grows in the woods and is found from July to October.
Agaricus arvensis. Schaeff.
The Field or Horse Mushroom. Edible.