Subgenus Hypholoma. Hymenophore continuous with the stem, veil woven into a fugacious web, which adheres to the margin of the pileus. Gills adnate or sinuate; spores brownish purple, sometimes intense purple, almost black.—M. C. Cooke.
This subgenus has been divided into the following five groups:
- Fasciculares.—Pileus smooth, tough, bright colored when dry, not hygrophanous. Examples, Ag. (Hypholoma) sublateritius and Ag. (Hypholoma) fascicularis.
- Viscidi.—Pileus naked, viscid. Example, Ag. (Hypholoma) œdipus.
- Velutini.—Pileus silky, with innate fibrils. Example, Ag. (Hypholoma) velutinus.
- Flocculosi.—Pileus clad with floccose superficial evanescent scales. Example, Ag. (Hypholoma) cascus.
- Appendiculati.—Pileus smooth and hygrophanous. Example, Ag. (Hypholoma) Candollianus.
The species are not numerous. They are generally either gregarious or cæspitose, and are often found in clusters upon tree stumps, or springing from the buried roots of stumps. A few species are found in short grass in open places; but few are recorded as edible, and one, H. fascicularis, has been classed as deleterious by Berkeley, Cooke, and some of the earlier authors. I find, however, no authenticated case of poisoning by this species, and, indeed, have as yet found no species of Hypholoma which could be satisfactorily identified as H. fascicularis.
The few species of Hypholoma which I have tested have been palatable, and one or two are of very delicate flavor.
Plate VIII.