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

Smith ~ Hesler

39

Key to Sections
1. Spores with wall less than 0.5 /A thick (usually less than 0.25 I/ thick)........................................... Section C onfragosae
1. Spores with wall 0.5 /x thick or more................... Section Hygrotrama
Section Confragosae (Singer) comb. nov.
Phaeoinarasmius section Confragosi Singer, Sydowia 15: 75. 1962.
In this group are placed species with a non-viscid moist and more or
less hygrophanous pileus which is glabrous except possibly for some
superficial veil remnants or is canescent at first. Pleurocystidia are absent
or inconspicuous, if present they are not the type known as chrysocystidia.
If the pileus is viscid or has gelatinized subcutis and pleurocystidia
are absent to inconspicuous see subgenus Hemipholiota.
Key to Species
1. Clavate-rostrate pleurocystidia scattered in the hymenium............................................................................................................................ P. anomala
1. Pleurocystidia present as pseudocystidia or subcapitate or absent.... 2
2. Growing on charred wood; pileus dark red.......... P. punicea
2. N ot as above........................................ 3
3. Pleurocystidia present and mostly capitate........................ P. canescens
3. Pleurocystidia absent....................................... P. confragosa
1. Pholiota anomala Peck, Bull. Torrey Club 22: 202. 1895.
Illustrations: Text figs. 483, 486.
Pileus 1.5-2.5 cm broad, at first hemispheric or subconic, then convex, hygrophanous, broccoli-brown when moist, pale yellow or cream
colored when dry, warm buff in dried plants, glabrous.
Lamellae adnate or decurrent, pale, becoming brownish ferruginous,
in dried plants ochraceous-orange to cinnamon, medium close or slightly
distant, rather narrow (3-4 mm).
Stipe 3-6 cm long, 2-6 mm thick, whitish or brownish, fibrillose or
glabrous, hollow with irregular transverse partitions, or filled with a
cottony tomentum, equal. Veil forming a slight, finally evanescent annulus.
Spores 7-10 x 4-5.5 /L, smooth, apical pore small but distinct; shape
in face view elliptic to somewhat oval, in profile mostly somewhat inequilateral varying to bean-shaped; color in KOH distinctly yellow singly
(individual spores), with a tawny tinge as seen in groups; in Melzer's