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PLEUROTUS
6. Pileus thin, fragile, sessile P. porrigens
6. Pileus thick, fleshy; lamellae decurrent on the lateral stipe P. sapidus
PLEUROTUS APPLICATUS (Fr.) Kummer
Figure 155, page 91
PILEUS less than 54
in. broad, sand-color to pinkish gray, darkening to
nearly black, growing from the underside of logs, etc., sessile, resupinate, at
first almost cyhndrical, expanding to deep cup-shaped, then saucer-shaped,
somewhat irregular in outline because of the excentric to lateral attachment,
coarsely pruinose, margin inrolled. flesh thin, gelatinous, lamellae radiating
from a central point, subdistant, rounded behind, moderately broad, thick,
with bluntly rounded edges, sand-color to dark gray, densely pruinose, alter-
nate lamellae short, stipe lacking, or sometimes with the thickened flesh at the
point of attachment prolonged into a stubby, stipe-Hke base, densely pruinose
to white-mycehoid at the base, spores smooth, white, subglobose, 4-5 n in
diameter.
In groups on decaying wood. Aug.-Oct.
This tiny mushroom is not common and will often be overlooked because
of its small size and its occurrence on the underside of logs and planks. When
dry it tends to fold up and appears as a small blackish spot on the wood, which
at first glance, would not be taken for a mushroom. However, when moistened
and expanded, the numerous fruiting bodies with their radiating lamellae form
rather a pretty sight. It is obviously not closely related to other species that
have been placed in Pleurotus and is not hkely to be confused with any of them.
Trogia crispa Fr. may also be found on the underside of branches, growing
resupinate at times, but it is larger and the upper surface is reddish tan to
yellowish in color.
PLEUROTUS CANDIDISSIMUS B. & C.
Figure 174, page 110
PILEUS pure white, thin, soft, V8-% ^^- broad, laterally attached, sessile or
almost so but never resupinate, white-mycelioid at the point of attachment,
semicircular to shell-shaped or fan-shaped in outline, at first convex with
inrolled margin, expanding to nearly plane, with a soft powdery appearance to
the surface, somewhat radiately wrinkled in dried specimens, flesh thin, white,
membranous, stipe absent or insignificant, lateral, minutely tomentose, whit-
ish. LAMELLAE reaching the point of attachment or (if stipe is present) subdecurrent,
distant or subdistant, broad, narrowing toward each end, creamy
white, with edges fimbriate, spores white, smooth, globose, 4-6 /x in diameter.
In scattered colonies on decaying wood. July-Sept.
Several small white species of Pleurotus have been described, of which
this one appears to be the most common. It has a somewhat chalky appearance
and is very delicate, soon becoming shriveled.
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