The veiled species of Hebeloma in the western United States / Alexander H. Smith, Vera Stucky Evenson, and Duane H. Mitchel.

The Subgenus Hebeloma

35

ochraceous singly and in groups clay color (in KOH), not dextrinoid,
wall thin.
Hymenium.-Basidia 4-spored, 8-9 [im broad near apex. Pleurocystidia none. Cheilocystidia 28-62 x 5-6 x 7-9 tm, either elongateclavate or cylindric-capitate, some slightly ventricose near the base,
agglutinated.
Lamellar and pilear tissues.-Lamellar trama typical for the genus or in Melzer's somewhat reddish. Cuticle of pileus an ixocutis but
the hyphae 3-5 Jim diam, slightly refractive and with fine incrustations
or wall-thickenings present; clamps present; walls and hyphal content
pale yellow as revived in KOH. Hypodermium hyphoid to cellular and
well-developed, somewhat redder in Melzer's. Tramal hyphae of pileus
typical for the genus varying to ~ reddish in Melzer's (but often soon
fading).
Habit, habitat, and distribution.-Gregarious on sandy soil, Birch
Lake Military Reservation, Fairbanks, Alaska; among needles and
grasses at edge of a bog, August 22, 1966, Wells and Kempton no. 16
(type, MICH).
Observations.-The spore shape is that of H. mesophaeum but
the size is larger. It differs further in having a pale tan veil and in
lacking a distinctive odor and taste. The stipe apparently stains brown
rather promptly on injury to the surface if the material is truly fresh.
The species is named in honor of the late Mrs. Virginia Wells of
Anchorage, Alaska, in recognition of her work on the mushroom flora
of Alaska.
Section MESOPHAEA
Subsection MESOPHAEAE subsect. nov.
Sporae 7-10 (11) Vxm longae.
Typus: Hebeloma mesophaeum
Spores 7-10 (11) Rxm long.
KEY TO STIRPES
1. Cheilocystidia mounted in KOH having a yellow amorphous content
when fresh; spores smooth......................... Stirps Evensoniae (p. 36)
1. Not as above......................................................... 2
2. Taste bitter to acrid; spores narrow (3.5-5 Ixm wide).............................................. Stirps Chapm anae (p. 37)
2. Not as above.............................................. 3
3. Odor sweetly fragrant; taste mild; veil pale gray... Stirps Brunneodiscum (p. 39)
3. N ot as above........................................................... 4