A N N A L E S HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI N A T I O N A L I S Tomus 68. Budapest

H U N G A R I C 1 1976.

Agaricus Studies, Y I .

b y G. B O H U S , Budapest

Abstract — Data are given to 8 Agaricus species. W i t h 2 figures.

Data on the form circle of Agaricus arvensis Sehff. ex F r . According to the statement of P I L Â T : " Ag. arvensis... is very variable, or rather

a series of weak species belongs here, whose systematic value is in many respects not yet elucidated". True enough, quite often materials come forward which do not correspond to the typical A. arvensis. Mycologists have to set aside these collections wi thout precisely determining them.

P I L Â T (1951a) separated A. osecanus, A. arvensis var. macrolepis and var. cretaceus from A. arvensis, and B O H U S did the same for A. maerosporoides and A. arvensis var. umbrelloideus. Without separating i t , one can state on the basis of the Hungarian material that there exists a form w i t h small spores and another w i t h bigger spores. A large material has been collected in the Hortobágy (Com. Hajdú—Bihar) from the form having small spores (6.3-7 X 4.5-5 pun) : Nagyiván, 23 May 1974, leg. E . B E G I T T E R . Óhat, meadow, 27 May 1974, leg. M . BABOS, grassy locust-tree wood, 24 June 1974, leg. M . BABOS, Kónya, pasture, 22 Sept 1967, leg. M R S . T Ó T H .

Spore dimensions of form w i t h bigger spores: 7.4-8.2 X 5.2-5.8 [xm: Mts. Pilis, Leányfalu, grassy place, 15 October 1958, leg. G . BOHÜS and M . BABOS. — 7.2-9 X4.9-5.9 pun: Hortobágy, prope Debrecen, pasture, 5 May 1960, leg. M R S . SZABÓ. — 7.5-8.8 x 5 - 6 pom: Hortobágy, prope Debrecen, pasture, 9 November 1960, leg. F . D E N C S I .

K e y to the group Arvenses s. str.

1 Under trees 1 — I n grassy places without trees 5 2 Under locust trees. Stem-shape intermedier between A. abruptibulbus and arvensis.

Fruit-body slender, umberelloid A . arvensis var. umbrelloideus B O H U S — Under other trees 3 3 Stem hardly or not bulbous 4 — Stem sharply bulbous. Pileus cracked already in youth into imbricate to subeoneentric

and adpressed scales A . arvensis var. macrolepis P I L Â T & Pouz.

4 Fruit-body medium-sized. Pileus up to 10 cm. Stem relatively short, 5-6 cm. Spores globose-ellipsoid, much more globose than generally in A. arvensis

A . osecauus P I L Â T — Fruit-body large. Pileus 9-27 cm. Spores ellipsoid

A . arvensis var. cretaceus ( P I L Â T ) (1951b) 5 Lamellae rosy. Pileus broad: 17-25 cm, may break up into scales, centre may be are-

olate. Stem thick and relatively short. Spores 8-9.5 X5-6 pun A . maerosporoides B O H U S

— W i t h other characters 6 6 Spores smaller: 6 .3-7x4.4-5 pun

A . arvensis SCHFF. ex F R . small-spored form — Spores larger: 7.2-9 X4.9-6 [ im.

A . arvensis SCHFF. ex F R

Further data on Agaricus deylii Pilât (Fig. 1)

This species has been scarcely reported up to now. Earlier i t has been mentioned when the degree of reddening has been discussed. Now on the basis of four occurrences in 1974 i t is necessary to refer to the different sizes of the f ru i t -bodies. The specimen collected in 1960 and 1968 approached though did not reach the size of P ILÂT 'S material from Karlátejn, where the thickness of the stem was about 20 m m . The rather r ich collections of 1974 and 1975 show a transition to the small specimens of the

Ann. Hist.-nat. Mus. Nat. Hung., 1976, 68.

Fig. 1 . Agaricus deylii P I L Â T . — F i g . 2 . Agaricus luteo-maculatus ( M O E L L . ) M O E L L . (y.2/3).

similarly rieh material collected in Telki , where the thickness of the stem was only about 10 mm. (The length of the stem is generally equal to the diameter of the pileus, as opposed to the slim stem of A. benesii, the length of which may be twice as long as the breadth of the pileus.)

Besides, these collections showed also among others the following constant features: white pileus w i t h fine fibrils distinctly visible or under the magnifying glass and the relat ively larger spores in t h e S i l v a t i c u s - g r o u p . A n interesting feature is the l ight yellow colour appearing after drying in the centre of the pileus or in the lower part of the stem.

H e r b a r i a l d a t a : Mts. Mátra, Tarnalellesz, at edge of frondose wood, 2 0 June 1 9 7 4 , leg. L . V A J D A , (spores: 7 . 2 - 8 . 5 x 4 . 4 - 5 . 2 [ím). — Mts. Budai, Telki , frondose wood, 9 September 1 9 7 4 , leg. E. V É S S E Y (spores: 7 . 5 - 8 . 8 x 4 . 6 - 5 . 0 }im) — Budapest, Kamaraerdő, frondose wood (Fraxinus, Quercus, Acer), 1 6 , 23 October 1 9 7 4 , leg. G. B O H U S — E. VÉSSEY, (spores: 7 . 5 - 9 . 5 x 4 . 7 - 5 . 5 urn); 2 2 Ju ly 1 9 7 5 , leg. M . BABOS, G. BOHUS, I . R I M Ó C Z I & E. VÉSSEY, (spores: 7 . 9 - 9 x 4 . 7 - 5 . 5 am).

Agrieus excellens (Moell.) Moell.

H e r b a r i a l d a t a : Budapest, Kamaerdő, frondose wood, 25 June 1 9 2 4 , leg. F. K O V Á C S . — Budapest, Hűvösvölgy, frondose wood, September 1 9 6 3 , leg. A. F R A N K Ó . — Budapest, Kamaerdő, shrubbery, 3 0 May 1 9 6 8 , leg. M R S . T Ó T H . — Törökbálint (Com. Pest), oakwood, 4 October 1 9 6 8 , leg. A. F R A N K Ó . — Mts. Budai, Mt . Guggerhegy, mixed wood, 2 2 June 1 9 6 9 , leg. B A R T O S ; pr. Mt . Csillebérc, 25 August 1 9 7 0 , leg. ? ; pr. Szentendre, 2 2 June 1 9 7 5 , leg.? I t has been found in our country first of all in deciduous forests.

I t ought to be mentioned here that the size of this species (diameter of pileus, thickness of flesh) may reach that of A. macrosporus i f i t grows on such rich sites (pine-needle piles) like the material of R I C K E N ( 1 9 1 0 ) (sub nomine Psalliota augusta). This may have led to the probably improper statement that A. macrosporus sometimes occurs also in pine-woods ( H E N N I G 1 9 6 7 ) .

A G A R I C U S STUDIES, V I . 4 7

The problem of Agaricus Iiiteolorufesceus Orton

This species of the Silvaticus-group was described in 19(50 and its chief characteristics are tha t besides the reddening of the flesh also the lower part of the stem becomes yellow. O R T O N distinguishes i t from A. lanipes, silvaticus and haemorrhoidarius.

We succeeded in collecting a similar fungus (Budapest, garden, on ground on a hazel gtump, 25 June 1 9 6 9 , leg. G. B O H U S ) , of which flesh in pileus and in upper part of the stem ^eddened and the bulb of the stem turned chrome yellow when touched.

D e s c r i p t i o n : Pileus 4-5 cm ; convex then expanded ; at f i r s t smooth and l ighter chocolate b rown , then + concentr ical ly w i t h broad f ibr i l losc scales i n chocolate b rown colour on l ighter g round , centre almost smooth. Stem 3-4 cm long, 5 m m wide, bu lb 10 m m ; bulbous ; above r ing wh i t i sh , below r i n g b r o w n f ibr i l loso-floccose; base t u r n i n g chrome ye l low when handled. R ing pendulous, whi te , edge below brownish vi l lous . Flesh w h i t i s h , reddening in pileus and above i n stem. Spores 4 .9-5 .4 X 3.4-4,0 f i m .

I n comparing the two descriptions, there is a difference in the colour and size of the pileus. The colour of the pileus of A. luteolorufescens shows a reddish shade (though during drying a pink shade could be observed also on the fungus from Budapest). The smaller size is due to the poor soil.

On the basis of literature and m y own observations, the following data can be found regarding the possible turning of yellow of the Silvaticus-group :

Agaricus lanipes — H E N N I G ( 1 9 5 8 , p. 1 4 6 ) : "Stiel m i t rundlicher, fast abgesetzter, oft Chromgelb anlaufender Knol le . " The aquarelle shows besides a chrome yellow colour on the cut surface in the basis of the stem. — M O E L L E R ( 1 9 5 0 , p. 2 6 ) : "the base . . . ends in a white, later yellowish mycelial strand in older specimens the flesh at the base of the stem is yellow."

Agaricus haemorrhoidarius—MOELLER ( 1 9 5 0 , p. 3 4 ) : "Flesh . . . sometimes finally ochraceous at the base of the stem." — ESSETTE ( 1 9 6 4 . Tab. 1 4 ) : "Chair blanche, parfois ochracée à la f i n . " On the coloured plate reddening of the stem and the turn ing yellow of the stem bulb can be seen on the cut surface.

Agaricus langei — I n case of fungi collected on 3 1 .May 1 9 7 0 the flesh in pileus and in upper part of the stem turned red, lower part became yellow. (Spores 8 . 2 - 8 . 8 x 5 . 0 -5.3 fim.)

On the basis of these examples A . luteolorufescens cannot be regarded as a distinct species and this has been referred to also by O R T O N (p. 1 8 3 ) : " I t remains to be seen i f this is really distinct from A. lanipes. . . "

Recent occurrences of Agaricus luteo-maeulatus (Moell.) Moell . (Fig. 2 )

Regarding the species collected in 1 9 3 7 on one occasion and described in 1 9 5 1 by M O E L L E R , there is only one further datum to be found in literature concerning this species ( H E I N E M A N N , 1 9 6 5 ) . I n the autumn of 1 9 7 4 — the weather being very rainy — a rather r ich material could be collected at several sites of Budapest : Kamaraerdő and so the species could be studied more intensively. By using the description of M O E L L E R , the further statements made on the basis of the above material where put into brakets. The most interesting characteristic feature of the fungus was its rapid colouring into apricot yellow. On several tha l l i no purplish colour was to be seen on the fruit-bodies. There were thicker and thinner specimen (see drawing, Fig . 2 ) .

Pileus 3 - 4 cm ( 3 - 7 cm); semiglobate, then flattened; s i lky; straw yellow w i t h purplish brown centre, in La t in : medio purpureo-tincto (whitish or cream, w i t h purplish centre or here and there w i t h light lilac, purplish lilae spots or often only cream without any purplish tinge); turning apricot yellow (rusty yellow) on the slightest touch; under the lens minutely flocculose (under the lens short-fibrillose or possibly minutely scaly). A t the margin small teeth from the veil (not always). Gills free; crowded, rather broad ; pale (long cream, then possibly rosy), later grey, finally dark. Edge sterile. Stem 3 - 4 cm X 5 - 7 m m ( 4 - 7 cm X 6 - 1 8 m m ) ; cylindrical w i t h a somewhat marginate, suddenly swelling, bulbous base, up to 13 m m broad (or clavate or bulbous, up to 2 0 m m broad); pithy-hollow; white (whitish), but becoming apricot yellow (rusty

yellow) on the least touch; silky ; under the lens minutely floccose (or short-fibrillose or naked) in the portion under the r ing. Ring sheathed above; whi te ; t h i n ; 4 - 5 m m broad; obliquely pendulous (or not) , simple. Flesh somewhat t h i n ; white, soon becoming apricot yellow (rusty yellow, rusty yellow w i t h reddish tinge, orange yellowish) both in the cap and stem. Smell almond-like. Schäffer reaction positive, (wi th potassium hydroxide yellow). Spores ovate, 5 . 5 - 6 x 3 . 7 5 - 4 urn ( 5 - 6 . 5 x 3 . 8 - 4 . 5 urn). Basidia 4-spored, clavate, 2 2 x 7 am ( 1 8 - 2 2 x 5 - 7 am). Marginal cvstidia numerous; ballon-shaped (to shortly clavate), 1 6 - 2 4 ( 3 0 ) X 1 0 - 1 5 am).

H e r b a r i a l d a t a : Budapest, Kamaraerdő, wood consisting chiefly of Fraxinus, 16 September 1 9 7 4 , leg. G . B O H U S & E. VÉSSEY, 3 0 September 1 9 7 4 , leg. G . B O H U S & M . BABOS.

Different sites of Agaricus maskae

The occurrence i n great quantities of this species can be observed on pastures w i t h slightly acidic soils. Sporadically i t has been found also in other grassy areas (without grazing).

L o c a l i t i e s : Máriabesnyő (Com. Pest), grassy places at the edge of forest, 19 May 1 9 6 1 , leg. M . BABOS, 2 6 September 1 9 6 9 , leg. J. S Z A T M Á R I . — Felsőtárkány (Com. Heves), meadow, 2 2 September 1 9 6 7 , leg. G . B O H U S & M . BABOS. — Stara voda, near Szentendre (Com. Pest), mountain slope meadow, 6 June 1 9 6 5 , leg. M . B A B O S .

Data on the occurrence of Agaricus phaeolepidotus (Moell.) Moell .

We succeeded in collecting this scarcely mentioned species, too. I t ought to be noted that regarding the colour of the pileus there is some difference between the expression "reddish brown" ("rufescens, rufus") of the description of the species and the following statement to be found in the note: (p. 1 7 2 ) : "P. phaeolepidota despite several years' observations of numerous f ru i t bodies always is a constant pure brown". The colour of the numerous specimens collected by us were pure brown and hazel brown. Characteristic is the discolouring of the flesh: when cut turning moderate yellow expecially in the base of the stem, then slowly flesh coloured of fleshy brownish. Smell slightly as ink, possibly hardly noticeable.

H e r b a r i a l d a t a : Budapest, Kamaraerdő, wood consisting of Fraxinus, Quercus, Eobinia, 1 6 , 23 October, leg. G . B O H U S & E. VÉSSEY, 3 0 October 1 9 7 4 , leg. M BABOS & G . BOHUS.—Szentendrei sziget: Horány (Com. Pest), mixed wood (Quercus robur, Pinns silvestris, Robinia), 1 4 June, leg. M . BABOS, 17 June 1 9 7 5 , leg. M . BABOS & G . BOHUS.

Agaricus porphyrizon Orton

Correction: The correct date on p. 1 5 6 (Bohus, 1 9 6 9 ) is 13 Sept. instead of 3 0 Sept.

Edibility of Agaricus xantbodermus Genev. s. str.

According to many years of observation P I L Â T ( 1 9 5 1 ) found this species always edible in the environment of Karlátejn. He and his family as well as other persons have collected and consumed i t i n great quantities. My own observations up to now were the same. Therefore we can f ind in the elaboration of the Xanthodertnus-gvoup by A. xanthodermus the following remark: "savoury as food" ( B O H U S 1 9 7 4 , p. 7 8 ) .

There exists, however, a material of typical A. xanthodermus (Budapest, Kamaraerdő, 16 October 1 9 7 4 , mixed wood), that after cooking gave off a strong carbolic smell. Thus not only A. pilatianus is inedible, but seldom also the specimens of A. xanthodermus are unsuitable for consumption.

A G A R I C U S STUDIES, V I . 4!>

References

B O H U S , G. (1974): Agaricus Studies, I V . — Ann. Hist.-nat. Mus. Nat. Hung., 66: 77-85. ESSETTE, H . (1964): Les Psalliotes. — Paris, p. 1-50, tab. 1-57. H E I N E M A N N , P. (1965): Notes sur les Psalliotes (Agaricus) du Maroc. — Bull. Soc. Myc.

France, 8 1 : 372-401. H E N N I G , B . (1958): Handbuch für Pilzfreunde, I . — Jena, p. 1-260, tab. 1-120. H E N N I G , B . (1967): Handbuch für Pilzfreunde, I V . — Jena, p. 1-326, tab. 1-120. M O E L L E R , F . H . (1950, 1951): Danish Psalliota species, I . I I . — Friesia, 4 : 1-60., 4 :

135-220. O R T O N , P . D . (1960) : New check list of Br i t i sh Agarics and Boleti, H I . — Trans. Brit. Myc.

Soc. 43(2): 159-439. P I L Â T , A . (1951a): The Bohemian species of the genus Agaricus. — Sbor. Ndr. Mus.

Praze, 7 ( B , l ) : 1-142, tab. 1-16. P I L Â T , A . (1951b): Hvmenomvcetes novi vel minus cogniti C'echoslovakiae.—Studia Bot.

Őechosl., (12)1: p. 1-72. RlOKEK, A . (1910-1915): Die Blätterpilze. — Leipzig, p . 1-480, tab. 1-128.

A u t h o r ' s address: D R . G Á B O R B O H U S

Botanische A b t e i l u n g Ungarisches Naturwissenschaf t l iches Museum H-1146 Budapes t , Vajdahunyadvár U n g a r n

4 Természettudományi Múzeum Évkönyve 1976.

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