North American species of Mycena.

EUMYCENA: TYPICAE

301

Observations.-One would not be likely to confuse this species
with other gray fragile or cartilaginous Mycenae, but it does lack an
outstanding character. The moderately fleshy consistency, almost
homogeneous flesh of the pileus, and Collybia-like stature serve to
distinguish it from other fragile gray species, and its shorter stipe,
narrow spores, and habitat separate it from the long-stiped cartilaginous species.
European material is described as having certain characters which
are not typical of American collections. Kiihner mentions in particular the noncespitose habit, farinaceous odor, gelatinous subhymenium, and slightly different cheilocystidia. Considering these
characters in the order named, I have found the fungus fruiting prolifically in just the manner Kiihner described, and I do not believe
that the additional variations observed here are in the least significant, particularly since they are well within the expected range of
variation. The farinaceous odor is a character of some value and
should not be ignored. In my notes for the season of 1931 I recorded
it as slightly farinaceous.
In 1933 one vigorously developing specimen had a distinctly
alkaline odor, but in my other collections it was merely marked "not
distinctive." In view of this situation it does not appear desirable to
place much emphasis on either the odor or the taste. When my
specimens are revived in KOH, the subhymenium shows a tendency
to gelatinize, although the character does not appear distinct enough
to be useful taxonomically. It can be demonstrated best near the
gill edge. Both types of cystidia figured by Ktihner can be found on
a single gill in many of the American collections. Those illustrated
are typical of mature pilei.
Kuiihner admits the American material into his species concept,
but the differences between our descriptions required some explanation.
TYPICALLY LIGNICOLOUS SPECIES WITH
ELONGATED CYSTIDIA
147. MYCENA BOREALIS A. H. Smith
Mycologia,27:586. 1935
Illustrations:
Plate 63; Text fig. 35, nos. 5-6 (p. 295).
Smith, Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, and Letters, 21, pl. 26, fig. 1.
Pileus 1-4 cm. broad, button stages obtusely conic or the midportion ventricose, becoming broadly conic to obtusely campanulate,