The North American Species of Crepidotus
57. Crepidotus distortus sp. nov.
Illustrations: Figs. 119, 120.
Pileus 10-35 mm latus, sessilis, pallidus, multis brunnaceis squamis. Lamellae primum subflavae, deinde brunnaceae, confertae, latae. Sporae 5-7 µ, globosae, punctatae. Basidia 22-27 x 4-6 µ, tetraspora. Pleurocystidia 20-63 x 5-11 µ; cheilocystidia 30-60 x 6-9 µ. Cuticula ex hyphis repentibus composita, hyphas brunneas incrustatas gerens. Fibulae adsunt. Specimen typicum in Herb. Univ. Mich.; lectum prope Emerson, Mich., Aug. 12, 1963, A. H. Smith 67160.
Pileus 10-35 mm broad, sessile, pallid with scattered to numerous or dense brownish fibrillose scales.
Lamellae at first yellowish, finally brownish, close, broad.
Spores 5-7 µ in diameter, globose, punctate. Basidia 22-27 x 4-6 µ, 4 -spored. Pleurocystidia 20-63 x 5-11 µ, subcylindric and slightly constricted, bottle-shaped with a neck, obclavate, subfusoid, more rarely forked or branched; cheilocystidia 30-60 x 6-9 µ, often more or less distorted, clavate, bottle-shaped with a neck, subcylindric-constricted, at times forked or branched. Gill trama subparallel, hyphae 4-6 µ broad, at times up to 11 or 15 µ broad. Pileus trama loosely interwoven. Cuticle of repent hyphae, bearing a turf or clusters of brown, incrusted hyphae, 4-10 µ broad. Clamp connections present.
Habit, Habitat, and Distribution: On hardwood, Michigan and New Hampshire, July-August.
Material Studied: MICHIGAN: Smith 36650, 67160, type, Emerson, August 12, 1963; NEW HAMPSHIRE: Bigelow 12014 (MASS).
Observations: The distorted cheilocystidia and yellow gills distinguish this species.