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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
Solitary, or more often in overlapping clusters, on wood of deciduous
trees. Aug.-Nov. Fairly common.
It is most likely to be confused with Phyllotopsis nidulans, but the greenish
or olive tints in the pileus distinguish it. In addition, the spore print of P. sero-
tinus is white whereas in P. nidulans it is pinkish. It is sometimes found late in
the fall. It is said to be edible but seems rather tough.
PLEUROTUS SUBPALMATUS (Fr.) Gill.
Figure 157, page 91
PILEUS 1-2% in. broad, fleshy, convex to plane, flesh-colored to brick-red,
glabrous, the cuticle gelatinous and forming coarse reticulations on the surface.
FLESH reddish, fairly thick, lamellae adnate, close, rather broad, sometimes
forked, pinkish, stipe J^-IJ^ in. long, V^-Y^ in. thick, excentric, usually
curved, equal, fibrillose, reddish, spores pinkish in mass, subglobose, echinu-
late, 5-7 X 4.5-6.5 /x.
Usually on fallen logs, occasionally on standing trees, singly or gregarious,
rare. June-Sept.
There is no information concerning the edible qualities of this mushroom
but it is so rare that it is not of any importance as an edible species in any case.
It is not a good Pleurotus. The pinkish, spiny spores and the peculiar, gelati-
nous, reticulated cuticle separate it sharply from other species of this genus. It
has been made the type of a new genus, Rhodotus by Maire.
PLEUROTUS ULMARIUS (Fr.) Kummer Edible
Figure 187, page 112
pileus firm, compact, 2-6 in. broad, convex with inrolled margin, expand-
ing to nearly plane, varying from fairly regular in shape with near-central
stipe to irregular with strongly excentric stipe, white to dull buff" becoming
darker with age, sometimes tinged with yellow or reddish brown shades, moist,
glabrous, flesh thick, white, odor and taste mild, lamellae sinuate-adnexed
becoming rounded or notched at the stipe, close to subdistant, broad, white or
whitish, stipe firm, stout, solid, 1-3 in. long, up to % in. thick, sometimes
swollen at the base, often curving to bring the pileus into upright position,
whitish, varying from glabrous to densely tomentose. spores white, smooth,
broadly ovoid to subglobose, 5.5-8 X 4.5-6 /x.
Solitary or in clusters on wood of deciduous trees, especially elm. Sept.-
Nov.
According to Kauff'man, the pileus may at times be somewhat tomentose.
In robust specimens the surface sometimes cracks to form a network pattern.
This is the large white mushroom commonly seen in late fall, often high up
in a tree, arising from a wound or branch stub. The fruiting bodies do not decay
very quickly and sometimes persist until after snowfall. P. ulmarius is edible
but inclined to be tough, especially in older specimens, and requires careful
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