mooth, 5-9x3-5u,
purple-brown under the microscope.

Cystidia not very numerous on side of gills, varying from clavate to
subventricose and sublanceolate, the free end more or less irregular
when narrow, rarely branching below the apex, and usually with a
prominent broad apiculus or with two or several short processes. Similar
cells on edge of gills, but somewhat smaller and more regular.

Stem even at the base, tapering to a short root, transversely floccose,
scaly both above and below the ring. The ring membranaceous, not
prominent but still evident, about 2 cm. from the apex. _Atkinson._

The specimens in Figure 261 are very old plants. While the plant was in
season I did not photograph it, but when Prof. Atkinson named it I
hastened to find some good specimens but only two had survived
sufficiently to photograph. They were found October 15, 1906, on Mr.
Miller's farm in Poke Hollow near Chillicothe.

_Stropharia stercoraria. Fr._

THE DUNG STROPHARIA. EDIBLE.

Stercoraria is from stercus, dung. The pileus is slightly fleshy at the
center but thin at the margin; hemispherical, then expanded, even,
smooth, discoid, slightly striate on the margin.

The gills are firmly attached to the stem, slightly crowded, broad,
white, umber, then olive-black.

The stem is three inches or more long, stuffed with a fibrous pith,
equal, ring close to cap, flocculose below the ring, viscid when moist,
yellowish.

This species is distinguished from the S. semiglobata by the distinct
pithy substance with which the stem is stuffed, also by the fact that
the cap is never fully expanded. It is found on dung and manure piles,
in richly manured fields, and sometimes in woods.

_Stropharia aeruginosa. Curt._

THE GREEN STROPHARIA.

AEruginosa is from aerugo, verdigris. The pileus is fleshy, plano-convex,
subumbonate, clothed with a green evanescent slime, becoming paler as
the slime disappears.

The gills are firmly attached to the stem, soft, brown, tinged with
purple, slightly ventricose, not crowded.

The stem is hollow, equal, fibrillose or squamose below the ring, tinged
with blue.

This species is quite variable in form and color. The most typical forms
are found in the fall, in very wet weather and in shady woods. This is
one of the species from which the ban has not been removed but its
appearance will lead no one to care to cultivate its acquaintance
further than name it. It is claimed by most writers that it i