The North American species of Psathyrella.

1972]

PSATHYRELLA

5

Sect. 3. Umbonatae (P. umbonata)
Sect. 4. Psathyrella (P. gracilis)
Subsect. Mesosporae (P. acutoconica)
Subsect. Psathyrellae (P. gracilis)
Series Psathyrellae (P. gracilis)
Series Tenerae (P. tenera)
Sect. 5. Fatuae (P. fatua)
Subsect. Fatuae (P. fatua)
Subsect. Lauricolae (P. lauricola)
Sect. 6. Obtusatae (P. obtusata)
Subsect. Caespitosae (P. multipedata)
Subsect. Obtusatae (P. obtusata)
Subsect. Limicolae (P. limicola)
Subgenus X. Conocybella (P. michiganensis) Same as Singer's concept.
Subgenus XI. Cystopsathyra (P. kellermanii) Same as Singer's concept.
Study Techniques
Because of the fragile nature of the basidiocarps of Psathyrella species the
latter require more care in collecting and transporting to the laboratory than the
fleshier firmer species of most other genera. I have long recommended that serious
students of the Agaricales plan their collecting routine so as to do the collecting
in the morning and carry out laboratory studies in the afternoon and evening.
Concerning the matter of when and where to find the species see p. 21. We shall
start our discussion here on what to do when the desired material has been located.
First, if the basidiocarps are clustered, you can be fairly certain that all in one
cluster belong to the same species if they seem to have the same features. Check
them immediately as to the veil remnants and how they are dispersed-if a veil
is present. Note particularly whether the veil (veils) leave broken fragments
along the pilear margin. If both old and young pilei are present note the veil
features on both. If the basidiocarps are scattered on the substrate, they should
be very carefully compared and if one finds any evidence at all that basidiocarps
differ, wrap each separately and then wrap the packages in one larger package to
allow the lot to be readily recognized upon return to the laboratory. For wrapping,
use waxed paper. I cut the standard sized sheets into quarters for small fungi.
Wrap the specimen as you would roll a cigarette, and twist the ends to keep the
specimen in place. The specimen should be held firmly in place in the package,
but not wrapped tight enough to break it or remove veil particles (although this
cannot always be avoided on specimens with an appendiculate margin). For very
minute specimens with stipes one mm or less thick, the British method of placing
the specimen in a small vial furnished with a cork, or in small tins that can be
closed, and have been lined with moist paper and which can be stood upright in
one's container, is a very acceptable method. Actually, it is best to go prepared
to use both methods. Once the specimens are wrapped, they should be placed in
a basket in such a way as to insure that they will remain in an upright position
until brought into the laboratory. This is especially true if one plans to take
portrait photographs of them. Some collectors, both amateur and professional,
have an obsession to collect fleshy fungi and place them in plastic "baggies." This
is the worst method known, since the plastic offers little protection to the specimens, they sweat and discolor very readily if the weather is warm, and the
specimens are almost invariably broken in trying to remove them from the container. Plastic baggies serve well for collecting woody fungi which are relatively