_ CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY _ OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM, NO. 2 STUDIES IN THE GENUS CORTINARIUS 1 ALEXANDER H. SMITH ANN ARBOR UNIVERSITY. OF MICHIGAN PRESS : | Jown, 1939 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM, NO. 2 STUDIES IN THE GENUS CORTINARIUS I BY ALEXANDER H. SMITH ANN ARBOR UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PRESS JUNE, 1939 i. a aa - a 7 . -T , : - : : , : “t : » 7 é @ - : : a cs 3 . it > a. 7 So dl Es - 7 , . ; 7 wy. be = a - . a 2 _ 7 - oe 7 7 CONTENTS PAGE SUB GENU SMV ivexcN CHUM Aescce. sibs ooe eek Gentes ee eae oe 6 SUBGENUSHD ULE OPODIUM ee 2. 66 2). o's «9: gic sae Pea agen dete ee en ee 12 SUBGENUS PHLEGMACIUM... 0.00.00. eee ees 22 SUBGENUSSIIN@ LOMAS: ete ie ee Lk g Sila 8 PAR te ee ee, ee ee 26 SUBGENUS MU BRMOGYBR. 26 0< 56 oiiseas bia d other en ee Bene See 30 SUBGENUSMUELAMONT Asc 2a oe aca? Sovica te we ea eg) tie ea nea rete 32 SUBGENUS, ELEY DROGYBH. 636.06 666 kc ee ie i eee ee i eon 37 LITHRATUR ERODED I sre tele d cs i bt tebe ee es 42 PLATES (Plates I-XII face page 42) E I. Cortinarius ponderosus sp. nov. ea ee Saale Il. Cortinarius ponea ice is sp. nov. III. Cortinarius elatzo as ie IV. Cortinarius volva i aS x1 V. Cortinarius olympianus a nov. X lL. VI. Cortinarius Ba eee sp. nov. X 1. VII. Cortinarius cedretorum sire Partly expanded fruiting bodies X 1. VIII. Cortinarius glaucopus Fr. X 1 IX. Cortinartus sphagnophilus Pk. x 1. Cortinartvus varticolor Fr. X 1. XI. Cortinarzus cyanites Fr. X 1. XII. Cortinarius californicus sp. nov. X 1. 7 i STUDIES IN THE GENUS CORTINARIUS. I URING the fall of 1935 and again in 1937 I (15; 16) was enabled by means of grants from the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies of the University of Michigan to make a critical study of the species of Mycena occurring in Wash- ington, Oregon, and northern California. In addition, species in other genera of the Agaricaceae were studied as opportunity permitted. The abundance of excellent material of the many species of Cortinarius collected on both occasions has made pos- sible an intensive study of that genus. The history of investigations in North American Cortinari is rather brief and centers around the work of two men, C. H. Peck, for many years State Botanist of New York, and C. H. Kauffman, of the University of Michigan. Because of the limitations of his day Peck collected chiefly around Albany and in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains of New York. Kauffman collected intensively in southern Michigan, and on various occasions in the eastern, southern, and western United States as well. His collections of Cortinarii in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, north- ern Idaho, the Olympic Mountains of Washington at Lake Quiniault and Lake Cushman, around Mount Hood, Oregon, and in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon are the basis of our knowledge concerning the genus in the western states. Because of the sporadic appearance of agarics, one may not find large numbers of specimens even during apparently favorable seasons, and during dry years an expedition may yield little or no material. These two factors were responsible for the meager collecting experienced by Kauffman on several occasions. In fact he found species of Cortinarius abundantly only in Colorado and the Olympic Mountains of Washington. The western slope of the Cascade Mountains and the entire region of southern Oregon and northern California thus remained practically unex- plored as far as this group was concerned. During the season of 1935 I located at Lake Crescent in the Olympic Mountains, Lake Tahkenitch on the Oregon coast, and at Trinidad on the northern coast of California. In 1937 two 6 ALEXANDER H. SMITH weeks were spent at Blue River, Oregon, just west of McKenzie Pass in the Cascade Mountains, and the remainder of the season at Crescent City, California. The Crescent City location was exceptionally favorable, because, with the aid of a car, one had easy access to the dense spruce forests of the coast, the redwood forests, the subalpine associations in the Coast Range and Siski- you Mountains, and the drier oak and pine areas of southern Oregon. Modern authors often differ considerably in regard to their interpretations of the older species of Cortinarius. In the present study, where discrepancies exist, my determinations are based on Kauffman’s (8) concepts unless otherwise qualified. In regard to Cortinarius orichalceus Fries, for instance, Kauffman described it as without a distinet odor, whereas Henry (6) ascribes a fragrant odor to it. There is obviously a great need for further investiga- tions in any group in which discrepancies of this nature exist. In this study fourteen species and one variety are described as new. Sixteen species not previously reported for North America have been critically studied and identified. Notes on range exten- sions of forty-seven species are also given. All of these except Cortinarius sphagnophilus Pk. and Cortinarius miniatopus Lange were collected in Washington, Oregon, or California. Interesting habitat data have been obtained for many species, and, in North America at least, the evidence accumulated indicates that the members of this genus are able to adapt themselves to a variety of habitats. Many, such as Cortinarius calochrous Fries, may occur either in hardwood forests or under conifers. The collections cited have all been deposited in the Herbarium of the University of Michigan. The color names within quotation marks are taken from R. las oC Standards and Color Nomenclature (Washington, D. C., SUBGENUS MYXACIUM Cortinarius ponderosus sp. nov. (PI. I).—Pileus 11-35 cm. latus, convexus, demum subplanus, glutinosus, subcastaneus, margine luteus vel subcastaneo-virgatus; caro sordide albida, odore subnauseoso; lamellae confertae, angustae, adnatae vel THE GENUS CORTINARIUS I ff brevissime decurrentes, pallide purpureo-vinaceae demum sub- castaneae; stipes 10—20 cm. longus, 3—6.5 em. crassus, solidus, basi viscidus, luteo-fibrillosus, pallide brunneus demum subeastaneus; sporae 8.5-11X5-6 yw. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 9273, prope Cave City, Oregon, Dec. 1, 1937, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 11-35 cm. broad, convex, becoming nearly plane, very glutinous, disk with agglutinated appressed spotlike scales or areolate in age, color ‘“russet’’ on the disk, toward the margin streaked with “russet”’ on a “mustard yellow” background, mar- gin more nearly “yellow ocher’” in age, gluten yellowish; flesh whitish, thick, unchanging, odor faintly spermatic as in many species of Inocybe, taste disagreeable; lamellae narrow, crowded, adnate, becoming slightly decurrent, tinged purplish vinaceous near the margin when young, soon sordid ocher yellow, in age russet, often staining russet before the spores mature and appear- ing quite spotted; stipe nearly equal or tapered abruptly at the base, 10-20 cm. long, 3-6.5 cm. thick, solid, whitish at extreme base, lower third varnished or streaked with the remnants of the glutinous, yellow universal veil, subannulate above, apex silky striate with ocher fibrils, flesh whitish, surface pale brownish, becoming “‘russet”’ over the lower portion in age; spores 8.5-11 X 5-6 uw, subalmond-shaped, roughened, pale tawny under the microscope; no differentiated sterile cells seen on the gill edges; flesh of the pileus and the gill trama with numerous lactiferous hyphae as in many species of Inocybe. In ares under Pinus ponderosa Dougl. and various species of Quercus, near Cave City, Oregon, Nov. 29, 19387 (8191) and Dec. 1 (9273-type); under spruce, Crescent City, California, Dec. 7, 1937 (9477). Several dozen of these monstrous fruiting bodies were found on December 1. Additional observations on the gill color of im- mature specimens are desirable, since the color change from pur- plish vinaceous to sordid ocher yellow is admittedly peculiar. Other characters, however, such as the yellow gluten, the change to russet of cap, gills, and stipe in age, the whitish flesh, sordid ocher gills throughout most of its development, the massive 8 ALEXANDER H. SMITH stature, Inocybe-like odor and lactiferous hyphae distinguish it. Cortinarius griseoluridus Kauff. seems to be its closest relative but is distinguished by avellaneous gills before the spores mature and the smoky gray ground color of the pileus. In addition, it dries a dull yellow, whereas C. ponderosus is usually darker and more reddish brown when dried. Cortinarius pallidifolius sp. nov. (PI. I1).—Pileus 5-9 cm. latus, convexus, glutinosus, subcrustulinus, margine fibrillosus; caro albida, inodora, sapore miti; lamellae albidae, demum alutaceae; stipes 10-15 em. longus, sursum 10-15 mm. crassus, clavatus, basi 25-30 mm. crassus, glutinose peronatus; sporae 9-12 (13) 5-6.5 u. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 3244, prope Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic Mountains, Washington, Oct. 19, 1935, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 5-9 em. broad, convex to plane with an elevated margin, evenly “tawny” or “ochraceous-tawny,”’ covered at first by thick masses of gluten, viscid in age, margin faintly fibrillose; flesh thick, white, soft, odor and taste not distinctive; lamellae white, changing slowly to near ‘‘wood brown,” adnexed, close to crowded, moderately broad, edge even to slightly eroded; stipe 10-15 em. long, 10-15 mm. thick at the apex, 25-30 mm. thick at the base, clavate, solid but becoming hollow, white within, sur- face covered by a glutinous sheath, gluten yellowish brown, cor- tina copious and white and forming a white sheath under the yellow gluten, in age the sheath breaks up into fibrillose zones over the lower portion, apex white and silky; spores 9-12 (13) <5-6.5 uw, roughened, dark rusty brown under the microscope, almond-shaped; no differentiated sterile cells seen on the gill edge. Scattered to gregarious under fir, Boulder Creek, Olympic Mountains, Washington, Oct. 15, 1935 (8169), near Olympic Hot Springs, Oct. 19 (3244-type), and at Lake Crescent, Washing- ton, Oct. 18, 1935 (3216). In 1937 it was found on the south fork of the McKenzie River in the Willamette National Forest, Ore- gon, Oct. 20 (7981) and at Blue River, Oregon, Oct. 22 (8078). It is easily recognized by the clavate glutinous stipe which is usually faintly zoned near the base, white lamellae at first, and THE GENUS CORTINARIUS I 9 the tawny to ochraceous tawny pilei. The glutinous universal veil reminds one of species in the section Colliniti, but the clavate stipe places it in the section Delibuti where it should be arranged beside Cortinarius nitidus Fr. ex Schaeff. The yellowish gluten on the stipe and the dense white fibrillose sheath beneath should separate it readily from that species. In addition, the pileus of the American species is apparently a darker brown. Cortinarius citrinifolius sp. nov.—Pileus 3-5.5 cm. latus, con- vexus vel late umbonatus, glutinosus, disco subaurantiacus, mar- gine subochraceus; caro citrina, odore forti gratissimo; lamellae citrinae, demum fulvo-cinnamomeac; stipes 7-9 cm. longus, 9-12 mm. crassus, subclavatus, glutinosus, pallide citrinus, apice fur- furaceus; sporae 8-10X5.5-7 uw. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 3158 prope Boulder Creek, Olympic Mountains, Wash- ington, Oct. 15, 1935, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 3-5.5 em. broad, convex to broadly umbonate, very glutinous when wet, nearly ‘“ochraceous-orange”’ on the disk, “ochraceous-buff” toward the margin; flesh “citron yellow,” thick on the disk, taste slight but not distinctive, odor sharply fragrant; lamellae adnate, close, broad, pale yellow (‘‘citron yel- low’’) becoming cinnamon brown in age, edge even; stipe 7-9 cm. long, 9-12 mm. thick, slightly clavate, glutinous to near the apex, pale yellow, slightly fibrillose furfuraceous above, annular zone evanescent, sordid yellowish below and changing to brownish where handled; spores 8-10 5.5-7 yw, rough, broadly almond- shaped, cinnamon brown under the microscope; sterile cells not differentiated. Gregarious under fir, Boulder Creek, Olympic Mountains, Washington, Oct. 15, 1935 (3158-type). The bright yellow flesh and young gills, more or less ochraceous pilei, somewhat clavate stipe, and fragrant odor distinguish it. The odor and colors remind one of C. percomis Fr., but the glu- tinous stipe definitely distinguishes it from that species. Cortinarius oregonensis sp. nov.—Pileus 2—4 cm. latus, con- vexus vel subumbonatus, viscosus, isabellinus, margine lilacinus et fibrillosus; caro violaceo-brunnea, inodora, sapore miti; la- mellae incarnato-lilacinae demum crustulinae; stipes 6-10 cm. 10 ALEXANDER H. SMITH longus, 5-10 mm. crassus, clavatus, viscidus, violaceus demum pallidus; sporae 7-8 (9) 4-5 yp. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 3557 prope Florence, Oregon, Nov. 19, 1935, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 2-4 cm. broad, convex then slightly umbonate or be- coming plane, glutinous when wet, disk near “cinnamon-buff,”’ margin “pale lavender-violet,” in age very pale violaceous white with a somewhat yellowish disk, occasionally streaked by ap- pressed concolorous fibrils, margin somewhat violet-fibrillose from the partial veil; flesh thick on the disk, watery violet-brown, rather cartilaginous, taste and odor not distinctive, pellicle not bitter; lamellae “chinese violet’ at first, becoming paler and finally brownish, close, depressed adnate, moderately broad, edge even; stipe 6-10 em. long, 5-10 mm. thick, slightly enlarged below, lower portion viscid from a thin glutinous universal veil, peronate with a bright violet fibrillose sheath which soon fades to violaceous white, apex violet at first, white in age; flesh in the apex concolorous with the young gills, white in age, whitish below; spores 7-8 (9) X4-5 u, ellipsoid, nearly smooth; no differentiated sterile cells seen on the gill edge. Gregarious under spruce, Lake Tahkenitch, Oregon, Nov. 19, 1935 (3557-type); Florence, Oregon, Nov. 19 (3565): Lake Tah- kenitch, Nov. 28, 1935 (3600). The small spores, bright pinkish lilae gills when young, the peronate violet-fibrillose sheath on the stipe, and the pale lilac pileus with its brownish to yellowish disk and lack of a bitter pellicle distinguish the species. It is closely related to Cortinarius todes B. & C., from which both the colors and smaller spores sepa- rate it. C. gristolilacinus Britz. is apparently close but should have a grayish lilac pileus. CoRTINARIUS ELATIOR Fr. (Pl. II]).—Gregarious under spruce near La Push, Washington, Oct. 26, 1935 (3532), and in a forest of mixed conifers and hardwoods on the Mad River in northern California, Dec. 9, 1935 (H. E. Parks & A. H. Smith, No. 3899). During the season of 1937 it was abundant in northern California under spruce near Crescent City (Nov. 4, No. 8432; Nov. 8, No. 8537; Nov. 9, No. 8554). It was also collected under redwoods THE GENUS CORTINARIUS I 11 near Trinidad, Nov. 12 (8649). Kauffman (8) gave its distribution as limited to the conifer forests of the higher mountains of Wash- ington. The above collections extend its known range along the West coast down to sea level and south into California. All of the collections cited were found under conifers, but it is apparently not associated exclusively with any particular species. Cortinarius topes B. & C.—Scattered under alder and fir, Lake Crescent, Washington, Oct. 18 (3217), and near Joyce, Washington, Oct. 28, 1935 (3385). Kauffman (8) reported it as known from New England to South Carolina. Apparently the above collections are the first records of its occurrence on the Pacific coast. CorvTINARIUS MUCosuUS (Bull.) Ricken.—Singly under redwood, Trinidad, California, Nov. 12, 1937 (8660). This species has been known previously in the eastern states from Michigan to Mary- land and Alabama. The above collection represents the first record of it from the western states, and since it is usually consid- ered as one of the distinct elements of our southeastern agaric flora its occurrence in California is of additional interest. CorTINARIUS SALOR Fr.—Seattered to gregarious under spruce, Fort Dick, California, Nov. 14 (8717), and in a similar habitat near Crescent City, Nov. 21, 1937 (8982). The species was pre- viously knownin North America from New York and Nova Scotia. See Smith and Wehmeyer (17). CorRTINARIUS SPHA orus Pk.—Rare; under Douglas fir, Blue River, Oregon, Oct. 16, 1937 (7848). Cortinarius delibutus Fr. is the most closely related species and the one usually re- ported from the western states. The above collection, however, is similar to material I have collected in Michigan, particularly in the truly violaceous gills of young specimens. A critical study of both of these based on abundant material is highly desirable. CoRTINARIUS SPLENDIDUS Pk.—Scattered under spruce, Fort Dick, California, Oct. 30, 1937 (8222). This collection extends the known range of the species in North America to the Pacific coast. Kauffman collected it in Colorado. CoRTINARIUS STERILIS Kauff.—Scattered under spruce, Fort Dick, California, Nov. 8, 1937 (8540). It has been reported from 12 ALEXANDER H. SMITH Washington and Oregon as well as from the eastern states. CORTINARIUS VIBRATILIS Fr.—Singly under fir, South Fork, McKenzie River, Willamette National Forest, Oregon, Oct. 20, 1937 (7994); at Crescent City, California, Nov. 3 (8380), and Nov. 9, 1937 (8566). It is a common and widely distributed spe- cies. The above records extend its range from Washington and Oregon south into California. SUBGENUS BULBOPODIUM Cortinarius volvatus sp. nov. (Pl. IV).—Pileus 3-7 (9) em. latus, convexus, glutinosus, albo-fibrillosus, pallide caesio-ciner- eus demum sordide albidus; lamellae lazulinae; stipes 4-6 em. longus, 5-10 mm. crassus, basi bulbo marginato praeditus, sub- volvatus, albo-violaceus; sporae 7-9 5-6 u. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 8857 prope Crescent City, California, Nov. 18, 19387, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 3-7 (9) cm. broad, convex, becoming nearly plane, glutinous, viscid in dry weather, with white appressed fibrils beneath the gluten, margin white fibrillose, becoming somewhat streaked in age, color “light Quaker drab’ at first, fading to “pallid mouse gray” or whitish; flesh “light Quaker drab,’”’ soon fading to whitish with a violaceous tinge, rather thin, odor none, taste bitterish; lamellae ‘dark grayish lavender” at first, becom- ing “‘Ramier blue” and remaining this color until masked by the spores, narrow, crowded, adnate; stipe 4-6 em. long, 5-10 mm. thick, equal above a rounded bulb, whitish violaceous from a dense pale violaceous coating of fibrils, bulb surrounded by a whitish volva-like sheath with its torn margin appressed against the stipe just above the bulb, bulb rounded below and with a flaring limb which disappears in age; spores 7-9X5-6 yu, ovoid, slightly roughened, tawny under the microscope. Gregarious to scattered under spruce, Crescent City, Califor- nia, Nov. 3 (8359), Nov. 5 (8457); Fort Dick, California, Nov. 10 (8599); and Crescent City, California, Nov. 18, 1937 (8857- type). The pale bluish gray to whitish appressed-fibrillose pileus, the bluish lilac gills throughout most of its development, small bulb, THE GENUS CORTINARIUS I 13 almost membranous volva, and small spores allow it to be easily recognized. From Cortinarius caerulescens and other species such as C. sodagnitis Henry, C. dibaphus (see Henry [6]), and C. Dionysae Henry, it is distinguished by its much smaller spores, duller more dingy pilei, and very likely by the more volvate re- mains of the universal veil. Lange has described a small-spored species under the name C. caerulescens and thus differs from most European and American investigators who have accepted the in- vestigations of Maire (12). The fungus Lange has classified under this name apparently resembles C. michiganensis Kauff. rather closely but differs in the colors of the young gills. C. volvatus differs from C. caerulescens of Lange in its smaller bulb, paler more fibril- lose cap, and brighter gills. C. volvatus seems closest to Cortinarius aggregatus Kauff., from which it is readily separated by its paler pilei in all stages of development, and also by its habit and habitat. Cortinarius olympianus sp. nov. (Pl. V).—Pileus 3-7 (10) em. latus, convexus, glutinosus, pallide violaceus, demum albo vio- laceus; caro albida vel cinerea; lamellae carneo-lilaceae demum lilaceo-brunneae; stipes 4-6 cm. longus, 8-10 mm. crassus, basi bulbo marginato praeditus, lilaceus; sporae 8-10 X5-6 uz. Speci- men typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 3242 prope Olympic Hot Springs, Washington, Oct. 19, 1935, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 3-7 (10) em. broad, convex, becoming plane, the margin remaining inrolled a long time, glutinous, color evenly “pale lobelia violet” to “pale lilac,” becoming “pale violet-plumbeous,’’ and finally fading to whitish with a faint lilac tint in age, some- times yellowish on the disk; flesh thick on the disk (5 mm.+), white to grayish, odor and taste not distinctive; lamellae “pale pinkish lilac’”’ in expanding buttons, brownish but strongly tinged lilac at maturity, narrow, slightly adnexed, crowded, edge even, stipe 4-6 em. long, 8-10 mm. thick, equal above a broad depressed marginate bulb which is tapered below (15-20 mm. broad), color at first “pale lobelia violet,” in age ‘“Hay’s lilac’”’ above and some- what sordid brownish below, ‘‘Hay’s lilac’ within near the cortex, pith whitish, cortina scant and pale lilac-white ; spores 8-10 X 5-64, 14 ALEXANDER H. SMITH ovoid to slightly inequilateral, slightly roughened, rusty brown under the microscope; no sterile cells seen. Gregarious under fir, Boulder Creek, Olympic Mountains, Washington, Oct. 15 (3160), Oct. 19, 1935 (8242-type, 3243); Cave Junction, Oregon, Nov. 29, 1937 (8214). The pinkish lilac lamellae, pale lilac to violaceous pileus, and small spores distinguish it. It is most closely related to Cortinarius caestocyaneus Britz. from which it is readily distinguished by the slightly smaller spores and pinkish lilac gills. Cortinarius calyptratus sp. nov. (Pl. VI).—Pileus 4-8 em. latus, convexus, viscidus, violaceus demum vinaceo-violaceus, calyptra- tus; caro sordide cinnamomea; lamellae pallide violaceae; stipes 7-9 cm. longus, 10-15 mm. crassus, basi bulbo marginato praedi- tus, pallide violaceus, fibrillosus, sporae 7-9 X4.5-6 uw. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 8352 prope Crescent City, Cali- fornia, Nov. 8, 1937, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conservatum. Pileus 4-8 cm. broad, broadly convex, then plane, margin usu- ally decurved and inrolled, slimy or viscid, evenly “deep slate- violet” to “slate-violet (2)” at first, nearly “dark vinaceous-gray”’ in age, disk covered more or less by a felty-fibrillose mass of uni- versal veil remnants which are at first pale violet and fade to whitish or sordid violaceous, flesh ‘“cinnamon-buff” in buttons and mature caps, watery and sordid in age, in the stipe colored violaceous near the periphery at the apex, “cinnamon-buff” else- where, odor and taste not distinctive; lamellae ‘deep dull laven- der” at first, changing slowly to near “clay color,’ very narrow and crowded, adnexed; stipe 7-9 cm. long, 10-15 mm. thick, equal above a broad marginate bulb, surface “deep dull lavender”’ or brighter at first from the copious lavender fibrils which cover it, fading slowly, and finally rusty violaceous—particularly where handled; bulb not depressed, 2-3 em. broad, covered by a pale violaceous mass of mycelium which permeates the surrounding debris, mycelium sordid buff or yellowish in age; spores 7-9X 4.5-6 uw, subalmond-shaped, rusty brown under the microscope, roughened. Gregarious under mixed spruce and redwood, Crescent City, California, Nov. 3, 1937 (8352-type). THE GENUS CORTINARIUS I 15 The mass of fibrillose debris on the pileus, the dark violet colors, cinnamon-buff flesh, lavender gills, and small spores are distinctive. C. volvatus, C. olympianus, C. calyptratus, C. aggrega- tus, and C. michiganensis form a series of small-spored species closely related to a series of larger-spored forms in Europe con- taining C. caesiocyaneus, C. caerulescens, C. sodagnitus, C. di- baphus, and C. Dionysae. Of the latter, Kauffman recognized C. caesiocuaneus and C. caerulescens in North America. Cortinarius occidentalis sp. nov.—Pileus 4—9 cm. latus, con- vexus vel planus, caeruleo-violaceus, demum cinereo-caeruleus, glaber, glutinosus; caro cinereo-caerulea, fracta purpurascens; lamellae caeruleo-violaceae, tactu purpurascens; stipes 5-7 cm. longus, 10-16 mm. crassus, basi bulbo marginato praeditus, caeruleo-violaceus, tactu purpurascens; sporae 7—9 (10) X5-5.5 uw. Specimen typicum legit A. H. Smith n. 8654 prope Trinidad, California, Nov. 12, 1937, in Herb. Univ. of Michigan conserva- tum. Pileus 4-9 em. broad, convex to plane or the margin undulate or wavy at maturity, margin long remaining incurved and striatu- late at maturity, glutinous, color evenly ‘dark dull bluish violet (2)” to “dull violet-blue,”’ soon fading on the disk to “‘pale mouse gray,” glabrous and not variegated or streaked; flesh “pale mouse gray,” but changing to “purplish lilac’? when bruised, odor and taste none; lamellae concolorous with young pilei, broad, moder- ately close, adnate, seceding readily, changing to “purplish lilac”’ when bruised, tawny brown at maturity; stipe 5-7 cm. long, 10—- 16 mm. thick, equal above a flaring marginate bulb which tends to disappear in age, faintly fibrillose from veil remnants, con- colorous with the pileus, solid, changing to “purplish lilac’? when bruised, flesh bluish within at first; spores 7-9 (10) X5-5.5 u, slightly roughened, ovoid, pale rusty brown under the microscope. Gregarious under fir, Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic Moun- tains, Washington, Oct. 15 (8174 & 3161), Oct. 19, 1935 (3252) ; under redwood, Trinidad, California, Nov. 12, 1937 (8654-type). The even, dark blue colors of all parts and the change to pur- plish lilac when bruised are distinctive. The species is closely related to C. subpurpurascens Fr. and to C. purpurascens Fr. The 16 ALEXANDER H. SMITH latter is common along the Pacifie coast. C. occidentalis is more brightly colored than either of these and in age fades to gray rather than becoming variegated with brown or reddish brown. In addition the color change is more pronounced and can be readily demonstrated on all parts of the fruiting body. C. sphaero- sperma I) ROMD EO wilh, Se Cortinarius cyanites Fr. X 1. SMITH PLATE XII Cortinarius californicus sp. nov. X 1. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM No. 1. Rusts from British Honduras, by Edwin B. Mains Notes on Agarics from British Honduras, by Alexander H. Smith. 28 pp., 2 pls. Price, $.25. (Issued May 23, 1939.) No. 2. Studies in the Genus Cortinarius. I, by Alexander H. Smith. Dpel2 plseRrice.$:35, mg Pore Sage a