The North American species of Pholiota, by Alexander H. Smith and L. R. Hesler.

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The North American Species of Pholiota

HABIT, HABITAT, AND DISTRIBUTION: Singly or in groups of two or
three, on maple and perhaps other hardwood species, trunks, stumps,
and logs, rarely on hemlock (Smith 50096); New Hampshire, New
York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin, also Canada west
to New Mexico; July to October; seldom abundant but not uncommon.
OBSERVATIONS: The apex of the spore in this species recalls the condition observed in Agrocybe erebia, but this is hardly sufficient reason for
transferring the species to Agrocybe. Apparently there is a layer of colored
hyphae below the gelatinous pellicle in old specimens but not in young
well-dried material. The pleurocystidia, if they are not monosporous
basidia, are rare and difficult to find. Although the spores are a very dark
brown they are not violaceous, so there appears to be no good reason for
transferring the species to Stropharia as was done by Kreisel.
Barrows and Isaacs collected this species in New Mexico on Populus
(cottonwood), and also growing cespitose on stumps of Pinus ponderosa.
The spores in the latter collection are small (10-12 /f long) but the
specimens are immature. The stipes were exceptionally scaly. To say the
least, pine is a most unusual host for this species.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: MICHIGAN: Harding 167, 234, 336, 383;
Kauffman (no date), 8-4-05, 7-26-09, 10-13-26, 9-1906; Mains 32-528,
32-233; Pennington 8-30-06; Peters 1121; Smith 11116, 23483, 32957,
33789, 36655, 37286, 37485, 38028, 38375, 39308, 50096, 50447, 57354,
67435, 67372; Stuntz 7-31-49; Thiers 3267, 3902, 4269, 4374, 4405. NEW
MEXICO: Isaacs 2708, 2695. NEW YORK: Type, North Elba; Smith
97, 130; NORTH CAROLINA: Sharp 20501; Smith 10703. Oregon:
Smith 24716. TENNESSEE: Hesler 18040. CANADA-Nova Scotia:
Wehmeyer 762; Ontario: Kelly 951, 1720; Smith 26465; Quebec: Smith
61713.
Stirps Olivaceodisca
59. Pholiota olivaceodisca sp. nov.
Illustrations: Text figs. 51-52.
Pileus 3-5 cm latus, convexus, viscidus, olivaceo-griseus, fibrillosus
sparse squamulosus. Lamellae adnatae, pallide luteae, confertae, serrulatae. Stipes 4-6 cm longus, 5-10 mm crassus, luteo-fibrillosus, suirsum
albidus. Sporae in cumulo olivaceoluteae, 5.5-7 X 3.5-4 /i. Pleurocystidia
desunt. Cheilocystidia 14-26 x 4-7 i., fusoide ventricosa. Specimen typicum in Herb. Univ. Tenn. conservatum est; legit prope Claxton School,
Anderson County, Tenn. 10 Nov. 1946. L. R. Hesler 17778.
Pileus 3-5 cm broad, convex, expanding, viscid, disc "deep olivebuff," elsewhere "olive-buff," fibrillose-appressed, with scattered spot-like
scales, margin even. Context pale watery-white, medium thick; odor and
taste mild.