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

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The North American Species of Pholiota,u broad or more (when fully inflated), hyaline to yellowish in KOH
and pale reddish brown in Melzer's reagent but soon fading to yellowish; subhymenium not sharply distinguished from the body of the gill
trama (the hyphae merely narrower). Pileus cutis a pellicle of hyaline
smooth thin-walled narrow (2-4 /u) subgelatinous hyphae; hypodermial
region not showing distinct differentiation. Context hyphae hyaline to
yellowish revived in KOH, thin-walled, interwoven the cells inflating to
15 A/, or more finally. All hyphae inamyloid. Clamp connections none.
HABIT, HABITAT, AND DISTRIBUTION: On soil, in pastures, and in leafmold in woods, New York, North Carolina and Michigan, September.
(As reported in the literature). Type studied.
OBSERVATIONS: Singer (1963) preferred to place this species in
Stropharia and indeed there is ample justification for this. The cocoacolored spores can be used as a justification for placing this species in
either Pholiota or Stropharia, however. This is an indication of the
intermediate position of the species. We decided to place it in Pholiota
because of the very minute apical germ pore of the spores. Also, its
natural place in the classification of Agaricales appears to be here among
the stropharioid Pholiotae.
Section Phaeonaematoloma (Singer) Singer, Lilloa 22: 517. 1951.
Flammula (Phaeonematoloma) Rev. Mycol. Paris. 2: 241. 1937.
Chrysocystidia or cells somewhat resembling them as to shape and
content present in the hymenium; never with both the pileus and stipe
distinctly scaly; spores not obviously truncate if the spore is less than
9 /u long; annulus not conspicuous.
Type species. Pholiota myosotis.
Key to Stirpes
1. Stipe viscid when young and fresh Stirps Silvatica
1. Stipe not viscid when young.....2
2. Pileus not viscid when young and fresh.................... Stirps Elongata
2. Pileus viscid when young and fresh 3
3. Spores typically 10 /t or more long and apex typically truncate............................................................................... S tir p s M y o s o t is
3. Spores typically under 10, long and pileus viscid (or in a few species
merely subviscid)... Stirps Subochracea
(See P. caespitosa and P. tennessensis also)
Stirps Silvatica
Key

1. Stipe with a fibrillose inner veil and a gelatinous outer veil; base