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

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The North American Species of Pholiota

Caulocystidia none except at apex where hymenium extends for a short
distance on the stipe and cells there similar to hymenial cystidia.
Gill trama of a central area of yellowish floccose hyphae as revived
in KOH, and a distinct gelatinous subhymenium. Pileus cutis a gelatinous pellicle 3-6 hyphae deep, the hyphae 2-3.5 u with walls gelatinizing, yellowish in KOH; hypodermial region of highly colored floccose
compactly arranged hyphae either smooth or with incrustations on the
wall. Clamp connections present. All hyphae inamyloid.
HABIT, HABITAT, AND DISTRIBUTION: Cespitose, in pine clearings and
on stony hills, District of Columbia, December, type studied.
OBSERVATIONS: Peck (1906) stated that the pileus is viscid and we
have demonstrated a typical gelatinous pellicle on some of the specimens
in the type collection. Since the material even though appearing to be
fairly well dried revives poorly, negative results in demonstrating the
pellicle are to be expected by ordinary techniques-the pellicle may be
torn off or simply not revive. By heating sections in KOH (2.5.%) however, we demonstrated its presence conclusively. The species has all the
features of the P. spumosa group, and indeed, has spores the size of
European material of P. spurnmosa. The only discordent anatomical feature is the rather thin pellicle. Because of the terrestrial habitat the thin
pellicle, and cystidia with slightly thickened walls, we recognize this
species in this Section.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Peck (type, from near Washington, D. C.,
December, collected by F. J. Braendle).
Stirps Decorata
This is a rather distinct group of dingy reddish species found in our
western states on rotting conifer wood or on conifer duff.
Key
1. Pleurocystidia with walls 1.3-3,/ thick 2....
1. Pleurocystidia rarely with walls over 1.5 /u thick......... 3
2. Odor fragrant; caulocystidia present; pleurocystidia 45-75 x 9-17
IL......................................................... P. h u m ii
2. Odor lacking; caulocystidia lacking (?); pleurocystidia 60-115
X 10-17............................................. P. vinaceobrunnea
3. Veil glutinous and leaving an evanescent glutinous annulus..........................................................P. v e la g lu tin o s a
3. Veil floccose (dry) and fibrillose................................... 4
4. Odor not distinctive; stipe below the veil-line with brownish
squamules at first, in age the squamules mostly whitish...................P. decorata
4. Odor fragrant; veil remnants pallid to yellow below the veil-line.................................... P. ru b ro n igra