The North American Species of Pholiota

134. Pholiota velaglutinosa sp. nov.

Illustrations: Text figs. 272-274; pl. 62.

Pileus 3-6 cm latus, convexus, demum explanatus, glutinosus, ad marginemi appendiculatus, sordide vinaceo-brunneus. Lamellae adnatae, latae, confertae, avellaneae demum ligno-brunneae. Stipes 3-6 cm longus, 4-8 mm crassus, sursum sericeus et olivaceoluteus; deorsum fulvus. Annulus gelatinosus. Sporae 6-7.5 x 3.7-4.5 µ. Pleurocystidia 55-82 x 9-15 (20) µ, fusoide ventricosa. Cheilocystidia 30-55 (60) x 10-15 (20) µ, utriformia vel subfusoidia. Specimen typicum in Herb. Univ. of Mich. conservatum est; legit prope Cave Junction, Oregon, 29 November, 1937, Smith 9285.

Pileus 3-6 cm broad, convex becoming plane or the margin elevated and wavy, glutinous to viscid, the marginal area decorated with the thin patches of fibrils, and often more or less appendiculate from the remains of the glutinous partial veil, color bright to dingy vinaceous brown ("cameo-brown") over all but becoming "sorghum-brown" or finally nearly "wood-brown" on the margin) appearing finely fibrillose-streaked beneath the pellicle. Context pliant, greenish yellow, buff colored in age; odor and taste not distinctive.

Lamellae adnate and with a slight decurrent tooth, near avellaneous but becoming "wood-brown" at maturity, broad, close, edges even.

Stipe 3-6 cm long, 4-8 mm thick, equal, hollow, with an apical glutinous evanescent annulus, silky and greenish yellow above, coated with appressed buff-yellow fibrillose patches or concentric zones below annulus, becoming rusty stained where handled, and dark brown below in age.

Spores 6-7.5 x 3.7-4.5 µ smooth, germ pore present as a minute hyaline spot under highest magnification; dull cinnamon in KOH, slightly paler in Melzer's reagent, in face view elliptic to broadly elliptic or ovate; in profile subovate to slightly bean-shaped; wall relatively thin.

Basidia 4-spored, 20-25 x 6-7.5 µ, hyaline in KOH, yellowish in Melzer's reagent, clavate. Pleurocystidia abundant, 55-82 x 9-15 (20) µ, fusoid-ventricose with the apex subacute to obtuse, smooth, content often colloidal and ochraceous in the neck, ventricose portion with wall 0.5 -1.5µ thick, wall of neck often flexuous. Cheilocystidia 30-55 (60) x 10-15 (20) µ, utriform to subfusoid with apex obtuse, thin-walled, content often ochraceous, smooth. Caulocystidia 42-60 x 7-20 µ fusoid-ventricose to subfusoid, similar to cheilocystidia and often with ochraceous content.

Gill trama of a central area of parallel to subparallel hyphae with hyaline to yellowish thin smooth walls, the cells long or short and 4-9 µ diam., but inflating in age; subhymenium gelatinous, hyaline, of interwoven narrow hyphae. Pileus cutis a gelatinous layer usually over 100 µ thick, of narrow (2-3 µ) mostly incrusted tubular hyphae hyaline to yellowish in KOH; hypodermium a dark rusty brown (in KOH) layer of floccose heavily incrusted hyphae with cells 4-15 µ diam. Context hyphae interwoven, the cells greatly inflated, thin or with slightly thickened walls, hyaline to yellowish in KOH. All hyphae inamyloid. Clamp connections present.

Habit, Habitat, and Distribution: Scattered on humus under pine, Oregon and California.

Observations: This species differs from P. ferrugineo-lutescens in the more bean-shaped spores in profile view, and in more of the pleurocystidia having subacute to obtuse apices. In the dried specimens the veil dries to resemble a thin-sheet of plastic over the gill cavity. For further comment see P. ferrugineo-lutescens.

Material Examined: CALIFORNIA: Lanphere 18. OREGON: Smith 3560, 9218, 9285 (type).

CA Mushrooms