ceous below, the base somewhat truncate; the color varies from very
pale to feiiuginous, hvid, ochraceous, and brown orange. When youn<r
It IS sprinkled with shining particles, which disappear in old age. In
W T f l dissolves into a
black fluid. D W scarcely any. W / t e very numerous, free, at first
whitish, but soon passing through a dull rose colour, grey, and brown to
black. Stipes 2-6 inches high, rather slender, 2-3 lines thick, white,
hollow, glabrous, very fragile, equal or slightly attenuated upwards.
T
A-
4 1
^ The present species is one of a striking group, whose very
singular property it is, to dissolve in decay, and almost entirely
to disappear in an inky fluid. On this account, B a t t a e a be-
stowed upon it the expressive name of Hydrophorus. A n other
character common to tbis group, is black sporules, and la-
mellae whitisb when young, but at length changing to black.
JNo use has hitherto been made of the fluid formed by these
plants, that I am aware of.
The synonymes of several authors, whose works I do not
possess, are given by B u l l ia e d ; not having any other authority,
I preferred rather to omit them, tban incur tbe risk of propagating
error. They are.
F u n g u s pileo plicastili major, Buxh. Cent. 2. t. 50. f. 1.
A g a r ic u s soboliferus, Joahc. Pauli, Norn. Fung. t. 3. f. 1. tom. 1.
A g a r ic u s farinosus, Betg. Phyt. t. 25.
Ill Mr G e a y ’s work, this species is altogether omitted, as
well as several other described British Agarici.
The name micaceus is expressive of tbe effect of the shining
particles on the young pileus, which appears as if spangled with
minute particles of mica; and does not, as Sowekby supposed,
imply tbe pileus to be of a slate-colour.
ASl
Fig. 1. A group ofAg. micaceus, nat. size, one plant o f which is dissected i
in. Fig, 2, Sporules magnified.