cothe after a rain. When cooked by
themselves the flavor is a bit strong, but when mixed with other plants
not so strong in flavor, they are fine.

_Clitocybe illudens. Schw._

THE DECEIVING CLITOCYBE. NOT EDIBLE.

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Plate X. Figure 67.--Clitocybe illudens.

Caps reddish-yellow to deep yellow. Gills yellow and decurrent.]

Illudens means deceiving. Pileus of a beautiful yellow, very showy and
inviting. Many a basketful has been brought to me to be identified with
the hope of their edibility. The cap is convex, umbonate, spreading,
depressed, smooth, often irregular from its crowded condition of growth;
in older and larger plants the margin of the pileus is wavy. The flesh
is thick at the center but thinner toward the margin. In old plants the
color is brownish.

The gills are decurrent, some much further than others; yellow; not
crowded; broad.

The stem is solid, long, firm, smooth tapering towards the base, as will
be seen by Figure 67, sometimes the stems are very large.

The pileus is from four to six inches broad. The stem is six to eight
inches high. It occurs in large clusters and the rich saffron color of
the entire plant compels our admiration and we are reminded that "not
all is gold that glitters." It will be interesting to gather a large
cluster to show its phosphorescence and the heat which the plant will
generate. You can show the phosphorescence by putting it in a dark room
and by placing a thermometer in the cluster you can show the heat. It is
frequently called "Jack-o'-lantern."

I have known people to eat it without harm, but the chances are that it
will make most persons sick. It ought to be good, since it is so
abundant and looks so rich. Found from July to October.

_Clitocybe multiceps. Pk._

THE MANY-HEADED CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 68.--Clitocybe multiceps. One-half natural size.
Caps grayish-white.]

Multiceps means many heads; so called because many caps are found in one
cluster. It is a very common plant around Chillicothe. It has been found
within the city limits. It is quite a typical species, too, having all
the characteristics of the genus. I have often seen over fifty caps in
one cluster.

The pileus is white or gray, brownish-gray or buff; smooth, thin at the
margin, convex, slightly moist in rainy weather.

The gills are white, crowded, narrow at each end, decurrent.

The stem is tough, elastic, fleshy, sol