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THE FUNGI OF EPPING FOREST.
By A. A. PEARSON, F.L.S.
(Explanatory Notes to the List published separately.)
THE following notes are intended chiefly to explain why many species
that have appeared as records for Epping Forest are excluded. Some
species have only been clearly defined in recent years, and several records
left in the list may be open to doubt. There are differences of opinion
as to the specific value of many records. For instance, Galera ovalis
may only be a large tenera: Naucoria pediades may not be distinct from
semi-orbicularis: Flammula ochrochlora is possibly the same as gummosa—
and so on. In such cases it has been thought best to leave both records
standing. Then many species may have been wrongly recorded or the
authority who named them may not have had the same fungus in view
as that more fully described by modern authors under the same name.
These are difficulties that are familiar to every mycologist. Our books
are full of phantom species, but it will take many years before all these
are cleared away.
Amanita recutita Fr. = A. porphyria (A. & S.) Fr.
,, strobiliformis Vitt.=A. solitaria (Bull.) Fr.
excelsa Fr. = A. spissa Fr. This species is very variable according
to conditions of growth, and has many names. Gilbert, the
leading authority on the genus, thinks that ampla Pers.
should have priority, but spissa being the most typical
form, is so generally adopted that one hardly feels justified
in disturbing it for the present. Fries in Systema Mycologi-
cum, the starting point for the nomenclature of the hymeno-
mycetes, cited Amanita ampla Pers. as a synonym for
Agaricus excelsus Fr. and it is not clear why he brought
forward a new name. Spissa was introduced later for the
more characteristic form.
Amanitopsis strangulata (Fr.) Roze. = A. inaurata (Secr.) Roze.
Lepiota metulaespora B. & Br. = L. clypeolaria (Bull.) Fr.
Tricholoma boreale Fr.—probably the same as T. irinum Fr.
civile Fr.—a doubtful species.
flavobrunneum Fr. = T. fulvum (D.C.) Fr.
,, leucocephalum Fr. = Collybia leucocephala (Fr.) Bres.
,, stans Fr. = T. pessundatum Fr.
Clitocybe inversa (Scop.) Fr. = Cl. flaccida (Sow.) Fr. non Bres.
nebularis is usually stated to be a good edible, but is best left
alone as many cases of mild poisoning are known.
rivulosa Fr.—There has been no record under this name, but it
is closely allied to Clitocybe dealbata. The latter has been
recommended as edible, but probably it has been confused
with small specimens of Cl. cerussata which is edible, though
it contains small quantities of muscarin, while rivulosa and
dealbata have 6 to 10 times the amount.