_

THE BROWN PSILOCYBE.

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

Figure 267.--Psilocybe foenisecii. One-half natural size.]

Foenisecii means mown hay.

The pileus is somewhat fleshy, smoky-brown or brownish, convex,
campanulate at first, then expanded; obtuse, dry, smooth.

The gills are firmly attached to the stem, ventricose, not crowded,
brownish-umber.

The stem is hollow, straight, even, smooth, not rooting, white, covered
with dust, then brownish.

Quite common in grassy lawns and fields after summer rains. I have never
eaten it, but I have no doubt of its esculent qualities.

_Psilocybe spadicea. Schaeff._

THE BAY PSILOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Spadicea means bay or date-brown.

The pileus is fleshy, convex-plane, obtuse, even, moist, hygrophanous,
bright bay-brown, paler when dry.

The gills are rounded behind, attached to stem, easily separating from
it, narrow, dry, crowded, white, then rosy-brown or flesh-color.

The stem is hollow, tough, pallid, equal, smooth, one to two inches
long. They grow in dense clusters where old stumps have been or where
wood has decayed. The caps are small but very good. They are found from
September to frost or freezing weather.

_Psilocybe ammophila. Mont._

[Illustration: Figure 268.--Psilocybe ammophila. Two-thirds natural
size, showing the sand on the base.]

Ammophila is from two Greek words; ammos, sand, and philos, loving; so
called because the plants seem to delight to grow in sandy soil.

The pileus is small, convex, expanded, umbilicate, at first
hemispherical, rather fleshy, yellow, tinged with red, fibrillose.

The gills are smoky in color, with a decurrent tooth, powdered with the
blackish spores.

The stem is soft, rather short, hollow, lower half clavate and sunk into
the sand, striate. The spores are 12x8.

They are found in August and September. They delight in sandy soil, as
the specific name indicates. The plants in the photograph were found
near Columbus and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. It is quite common in
sandy soil. I do not think it is edible. I should advise great caution
in its use.

CHAPTER VI.

THE BLACK-SPORED AGARICS.

The genera belonging to this series have black spores. There is an
entire absence of purple or brown shades. The genus Gomphidius, placed
in this series for other reasons, has dingy-olivaceous spores.

_Coprinus. Pers._

Coprinus is from a Greek word meaning dung. This genus can be readily
re