Gills subelliptical to subventricose behind, broadly emarginate, adnexed. Basidia 4-spored. Spores suboblong, smooth, 5–9×3–5µ, purple-brown under the microscope.
Cystidia not very numerous on side of gills, varying from clavate to subventricose and sublanceolate, the free end more or less irregular when narrow, rarely branching below the apex, and usually with a prominent broad apiculus or with two or several short processes. Similar cells on edge of gills, but somewhat smaller and more regular.
Stem even at the base, tapering to a short root, transversely floccose, scaly both above and below the ring. The ring membranaceous, not prominent but still evident, about 2 cm. from the apex. Atkinson.
The specimens in Figure 261 are very old plants. While the plant was in season I did not photograph it, but when Prof. Atkinson named it I hastened to find some good specimens but only two had survived sufficiently to photograph. They were found October 15, 1906, on Mr. Miller's farm in Poke Hollow near Chillicothe.
Stropharia stercoraria. Fr.
The Dung Stropharia. Edible.
Stercoraria is from stercus, dung. The pileus is slightly fleshy at the center but thin at the margin; hemispherical, then expanded, even, smooth, discoid, slightly striate on the margin.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, slightly crowded, broad, white, umber, then olive-black.
The stem is three inches or more long, stuffed with a fibrous pith, equal, ring close to cap, flocculose below the ring, viscid when moist, yellowish.
This species is distinguished from the S. semiglobata by the distinct pithy substance with which the stem is stuffed, also by the fact that the cap is never fully expanded. It is found on dung and manure piles, in richly manured fields, and sometimes in woods.