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789b. P. xanthoderma W. G. Sm., Agaricus xanthodermus Genev.
(from the yellow-stained outer surface and flesh ; Gr. xanthos,
yellow, derma, skin) a.
P. fleshy, convex, even, greyish-white, becoming yellowish when
touched. St. stuffed to hollow, white, yellow at base. A.
membranous. G. sinuato-free, pale rose, becoming purple-
brown. Flesh becoming yellow.
Pastures. Autumn. X 4 X f in.
790. P. cretacea Que'l. (from its chalky-white colour; creta, chalk)
abc.
P . convexo-flattened, obtuse ; marg. even, rivulose or squamulose.
St. hollow, attenuate upwards, smooth. G. becoming
fuscous. Flesh unchanging white.
Pastures, stoves ; rare. Feb.-Oct. 3I x 4 X f in. Resembling 40.
791. P. pratensis Que'l. (from its habitat ; pratum, a meadow) a c.
P. expanded, obtuse, floccoso-farinose, then smooth, whitish, then
greyish. St. hollow, colour as P. G. arcuate, brown.
Taste and odour pleasant. Pastures, woods. Oct. 3j X 3 X f in.
792. P. campestris Quél, (from its habitat ; campus, a field or plain)
abc .
P. expanded, silky-even, sometimes squamulose, whitish. St.
stuffed, even or squamulose, whitish. G. crowded, bright
salmon, then umber-fuscous. Flesh white.
Odour pleasant. May-Dee. 5 X 3§ X 1 in. Variable in size and colour.
The common edible mushroom. Sometimes the flesh becomes faintly
reddish or brownish when cut or broken. Sometimes the odour is strong
and somewhat unpleasant. The following varieties have been described :
— I . alba W. G. Sm., Agaricus campestris L, var. albus Viv., P. silky-
white ; St. short, z. praticola Magnus, P. rufous-squamulose ; flesh rufescent
when cut. 3. rufescens W. G. Sm., A . campestris L., var. rupescens Fr.,
P. rufous-squamulose. Si. long. 4. umbrina Magnus, P. at length even ;
umber. 5. fuhastera W. G. Sm., A . campestris L., var. fulvaster Viv.,
P. ochreous-tawny; St. solid. 6. costata W. G. Sm., A . campestris L.,
var. costatus Viv., P. sulcate. 7. silvicola Magnus, P. smooth, shining ;
St. elongate, somewhat bulbous, hollow ; A . large. 8, elongata W. G. Sm.,
h, '
marg.
9. exannulata W. G. Sm., A . campestris jl-, exunnuiaius i^ooKe,
A. fugitive or obsolete. The gills of cultivated mushrooms are frequently
thickened or obliterated by disease ; this is caused by a white parasitic
fungus, Mycogoneperniciosa. Diseased examples are not fit for food. Sound
examples of true mushrooms sometimes cause diarrhoea and sweating.
792a. p. villatiea Magnus (from its frequent habitat, near houses in
the country ; villa, a country house) a b.
P. convex then expanded, silky, soon squamose, ground pale
yellowish or brownish straw-colour then vinous-brownish; sc.
vinous-brown. St. solid, somewhat ventricose, paler than P.,
clouded pale vinous-brown. A. superior, large, tomentose
beneath. G. free, very crowded, not at first bright salmon,
becoming vinous-brown,
when broken.
Flesh white, pale reddish-yellow
Edible. Taste of almonds, odour somewhat rank. Rich pastures, lawns,
manured fields, in cellars, on mushroom-beds in and out of doors ; rare,
ift. 2 in. X 74 X 3j in. This is the “ gigantic mushroom ” of newspapers ;
it attains a diam. of i ft. 5 in. or more and a weight of 44 lbs. By some
authors considered a var. of 792 or 789, but probably distinct. Badham,
“ Esculent Funguses of England,” p. 100, mentions an example with a
circumference of 43 ins., and weight of 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
793. P. silvatiea Quél, (from the habitat ; silva, a wood) a b.
P. at length flat, subumbonate, floccoso-squamulose, pale rusty-
brown or rufescent to pale ashy-brown. St. fibrillose below A.,
much paler than P. or white. G. thin, arid, reddish to umber-
fuscous.
Edible, with a delicate flavour. Woods, under cedars ; frequent. July-Sept.
3f X 3j X f in. Usually thinner than its allies. St. varying long and short.
794. P. hsemorrhoidaria Magnus (from the flesh changing colour to
blood-red when bruised ; Gr. haimorrhoides, veins which discharge
blood) a b.
P. at length expanded, obtuse, adpressed-scaly, rufous-fuscous.
St. hollow, fibrillose, slightly attenuate upwards, whitish. G l
crowded, bright salmon to umber-purple.
Suspected sometimes poisonous. Woods, parks. Aug.-Nov. 4f X 4| X 4 in.
794a. p. peronata W. G. Sm., Agaricus peronatus Mass. (from the
scaly stem ; peronatus, sheathed) a.
P. hemispherical then expanded, pale dull ochreous, densely
scaly ; sc. small, silky, brown. St. hollow, equal, marginately
bulbous, smooth above A., white-scaly below. A. large,
spreading. G. very distant, crowded, pink then pale purple-
brown. Flesh white, brownish in St. when cut.
Edible. Pine-woods. Oct. 34 X 6J X 4 in. Attaining a size of 44 X 8 in.
Allied to 787 (but differing in the hollow, peronate stem) and 794.
b. Mitiores.
795. P. eomtula Que'l. (from the beautifully coloured gills ; comptus,
gaily adorned) a b.
P. flat, adpressedly fibrilloso-scaly, yellowish-white ; marg. appendiculate
with V. St. hollow, colour as P. or paler. A.
fugacious. G. crowded, fuscous-flesh-colour. Flesh colour
as P.
Edible. Taste and smell strong of anise. Woods. May-Oct.
14 X I§ X A in- Might be mistaken for a small 792.
796. P. subgibbosa Henn. (from the somewhat obtuse pileus ;
subgibbo sus, somewhat gibbous) a c.
P. plane, smooth, sienna-tan ; marg. silky-fibrillose. St. hollow,
tan-white. A. fugacious. G. ashy-brown.
Woods. Sept. 4 X 3J X 4 in . Might be mistaken for 792.
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