c.

The gills are usually snow white, broad, rather distant, broad in the
middle, joined to the stem by the upper angle, unequal.

The stem is frequently long, of the same color as the cap, yet sometimes
paler; smooth, firm, sometimes grooved, often twisted, tapering upward,
ending in a long tapering root, deeply planted in the soil.

The spores are elliptical, 15x10u.

They grow singly, but generally have many neighbors. They are found in
open woods and around old stumps. I seldom have any trouble in getting
enough for a large family and some for my neighbor, who may not know
what to get but does know how to appreciate them. Found from June to
October and from the New England states through the middle west. They
differ from C. hariolarum in the densely tufted habit of the latter.

_Colybia ingrata. Schum._

Ingrata means unpleasant; from its somewhat unpleasant odor.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, globose, bell-shaped, then
convex, umbonate, even, brownish-tan.

The gills are free, narrow, crowded, pallid.

The stem is twisted, subcompressed, sprinkled with a mealy tomentum
above, umber below, hollow, rather long, unequal.

I found this plant quite abundant on Cemetery Hill, growing under pine
trees, from the mass of pine needles. Found in July and August.

_Collybia platyphylla. Fr._

BROAD-GILLED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 79.--Collybia platyphylla. One-third natural
size.]

Platyphylla is from two Greek words meaning broad and leaf, referring to
the broad gills. It is a much larger and stouter plant than Collybia
radicata. It is found in new ground on open pastures about stumps, also
in woods, on rotten logs and about stumps.

The pileus is three to four inches broad, at first convex, then
expanded, plane, margin often upturned, smoky brown to grayish, streaked
with dark fibrils, watery when moist, flesh white.

The gills are adnexed, very broad, obliquely notched behind, distant,
soft, white, in age more or less broken or cracked.

The stem is short, thick, often striated, whitish, soft, stuffed,
sometimes slightly powdered at the apex, root blunt. The spores are
white and elliptical.

It is easily distinguished from C. radicata by the blunt base of the
root and the very broad gills. Like C. radicata they need to be cooked
well or there is a slightly bitter taste to them. They are found from
June to October.

_Collybia dryophila. Bull._

OAK-LOVING COLLYBIA. ED