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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
base paler, yellow to white, spores smooth, white, eUipsoid, apiculate, (7) 8-
10 X 4.5-6 fjL.
In groups on the ground in woods. July-Nov.
Young, fresh specimens of this species are among the most brilhantly
colored of our mushrooms. The white base of the stipe and the broad, deeply
colored lamellae are also distinctive. H. coccineus Fr. is said to be similar but
not viscid and is apparently very rare in North America.
HYGROPHORUS RUSSULA (Fr.) Quel. Edible
Figure 212, page 133
piLEUS 2-4 1/2 in. broad, firm, fleshy, convex or with a broad obtuse umbo,
viscid when fresh, rosy red to wine color on the disk, paling toward the margin
to flesh-pink or whitish, sometimes flecked with wine-colored spots, becoming
very minutely areolate, especially on the disk, margin at first incurved and
slightly floccose, becoming expanded and finally elevated, flesh thick, firm,
white to pinkish, odor and taste not distinctive, lamellae adnate to decurrent,
moderately narrow, close to crowded, white then pinkish, finally spotted with
purplish red stains, trama of divergent hyphae. stipe stout, 1 ^4-3 in. long,
%-l in. thick, equal or tapering downward, dry, white then pinkish, solid.
SPORES smooth, white, eUipsoid, 6-8 X 3.5-5 /x-
Scattered or in groups on the ground in hardwoods. Sept.-Oct.
This species is rather unusual in the genus because of the close to crowded
lamellae and some authors have placed it in Tricholoma. However, it now
seems to be generally agreed that it properly belongs in Hygrophorus. It some-
times occurs late in the autumn under fallen leaves. This is considered to be
one of the best edible species.
H. purpurascens Schw. can be distinguished by the presence of an evanes-
cent, fibrillose annulus.
HYGROPHORUS SPECIOSUS Peck Edible
Figure 206, page 115
PILEUS 1-3 in. broad, at first subconic to campanulate, then expanded,
often umbonate, scarlet to orange-red, fading to yellowish near the margin
but remaining red on the disk, viscid, glabrous, margin incurved at first, then
spreading, flesh white, tinged orange under the pellicle, soft, odor and taste
mild. LAMELLAE dccurrcnt, distant, rather broad, thick, white to yellowish,
trama of divergent hyphae. stipe 1)4-4 in. long, )4-)4 in. thick, equal or
sHghtly compressed, floccose-fibrillose up to an evanescent annular zone,
subglabrous above, viscid, soHd. spores broadly ellipsoid, white, smooth,
8-10 X 5-6 M-
, Usually gregarious in larch swamps. Sept.-Oct.
This species is not common but is a very showy and beautiful fungus and
will certainly attract notice when it is found. It is said to be edible.
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