Part 103

Perhaps too closely allied to C. dilectus.

II. Volva absent, ring present on stem.

* Large; Pileus 8-15 cm. high.

=comatus=, Fr. P. cylindr. then campan. 9-15 cm. high, whitish or tinged ochre, becoming broken up into large reflexed scales; g. very slightly adnexed; s. 12-20 cm. white, base bulbous, rooting, ring loose; sp. 12-14 x 8-10. Edible.

var. clavatus, Q. P. ovate, g. free, white then black, no intermediate pink colour; s. without a ring.

=ovatus=, Schaeff. P. 8-10 cm. high, ovate then exp. striate, soon broken up into broad adpressed scales; g. free; s. white, base bulbous, rooting, ring deciduous; sp. 12 x 8. Edible.

Differs from C. comatus in smaller size, and ovate form when young.

=atramentarius=, Fr. P. rather fleshy, 8-12 cm. high, ovate then campan. fluted, edge uneven, silvery grey, apex squamulose; g. free; s. 10-16 cm. white, hollow, ring basal, evanescent; sp. 12 x 6. Edible.

=soboliferus=, Fr. P. thin, ovate then exp. plicate below, disc truncate, brownish with darker squamules, rest greyish white; g. free; s. 12-20 cm. white, stuffed, ring fugacious; sp. 15 x 7. Edible.

Differs from C. atramentarius in squamulose truncate disc, stuffed stem, and larger spores.

Differs from C. atramentarius in white veil.

Differs from C. atramentarius in solid s.

** Small; pileus never exceeding 3 cm. high.

=Hendersonii=, Fr. P. subcylindrical then exp. up to 1 cm. apex tawny rest grey, fluted, minutely pruinose; g. free; s. 3-4 cm. with a permanent ring below middle; sp. 10-12 x 6.

Differs from C. Hendersonii in bulbous stem.

Differs from C. bulbillosus in squamulose pileus and strigose bulb.

var. muscorum, sp. 7-9 x 6-8.

III. Volva and ring absent. Veil practically absent; p. either glabrous or with minute innate squamules, especially near the apex, not splitting along the lines of the gills.

* Gills attached to the stem.

=fuscescens=, Fr. P. 4-6 cm. ovate then exp. not lobed, disc fuscous, rest greyish brown, powdered with meal at first; g. narrow towards the front; s. white, hollow, somewhat fibrillose; sp. 8-10 x 5-6.

Differs from C. atramentarius in rufous p. not lobed.

Allied to C. micaceus; differs in squamulose and not micaceous p.

** Gills free.

Allied to C. atramentarius.

=flocculosus=, Fr. P. ovate then exp. 4-7 cm. across, dingy white, striate, squamules innate; g. narrow; s. 6-10 cm. white, silky, hollow; sp. 10 x 7-8.

Differs from C. aratus in white p., and from C. lagopus in glabrous stem.

=squamosus=, Morgan. P. 4-6 cm. sulcate, grey, with persistent spreading brown scales; g. free; s. 9-14 cm. with brown spreading scales up to ring; sp. 9-10 x 5.

IV. Volva and ring absent. Veil very evident--at least in young state--as a felty coating, which breaks up during expansion of p. into patches; cottony, squamulose, fibrillose or mealy. Not glistening or micaceous.