The genera belonging to this series have black spores. There is an entire absence of purple or brown shades. The genus Gomphidius, placed in this series for other reasons, has dingy-olivaceous spores.
Coprinus. Pers.
Coprinus is from a Greek word meaning dung. This genus can be readily recognized from the black spores and from the deliquescence of the gills and cap into an inky substance. Many of the species grow in dung, as the name implies, or on recently manured ground. Some grow in flat rich ground, or where there has been a fill, or on dumping grounds; some grow on wood and around old stumps.
The pileus separates easily from the stem. The gills are membranaceous, closely pressed together. The spores, with few exceptions, are black. Most of the species are edible, but many are of such small size that they are easily overlooked.
Coprinus comatus. Fr.
The Shaggy Mane Coprinus. Edible.
Figure 269. Photo by Prof Shaftner.
Figure 269.—Coprinus comatus.
Figure 270. Figure 270.—Coprinus comatus. One-half natural size.
Comatus is from coma, having long hair, shaggy. It is so called from a fancied resemblance to a wig on a barber's block. A description is hardly necessary with a photograph before us. They always remind us of a congregation of goose eggs standing on end. This plant cannot be confounded with any other, and the finder is the happy possessor of a rich, savory morsel that cannot be duplicated in any market.
The pileus is fleshy, moist, at first egg-shaped, cylindrical, becoming bell-shaped, seldom expanded, splitting at the margin along the line of the gills, adorned with scattered yellowish scales, tinged with purplish-black, yet sometimes entirely white; surface shaggy.
The gills are free, crowded, equal, creamy white, becoming pink, brown, then black, and dripping an inky fluid.
The stem is three to eight inches long, hollow, smooth, or slightly fibrillose, tapering upward, creamy-white, brittle, easily separating from the cap, slightly bulbous at the base. The ring is rarely adherent or movable in young plants, later lying on the ground at the base of the stem or disappearing altogether. The spores are black and elliptical, and are shed in liquid drops.
Found in damp rich ground, gardens, rich lawns, barnyards, and dumping grounds. They often grow in large clusters. They are found everywhere in great abundance, from May till late frost. A weak stomach can digest any of the Coprini when almost any other food will give it trouble. I am always pleased to give a dish of any Coprini to an invalid.
Coprinus atramentarius. Fr.
The Inky Coprinus. Edible.
Figure 271. Figure 271.—Coprinus atramentarius. Two-thirds natural size.
Atramentarius means black ink. The pileus is at first egg-shaped, gray or grayish-brown, smooth, except that there is a slight scaly appearance; often covered with a marked bloom, margin ribbed, often notched, soft, tender, becoming expanded, when it melts away in inky fluid.
The gills are broad, close, ventricose, creamy-white in young specimens, becoming pinkish-gray, then black, moist, melting away in inky drops.
The stem is slender, two to four inches in length, hollow, smooth, tapering upward, easily separating from the cap, with slight vestige of a collar near the[Pg 334]
[Pg 335] base when young but soon disappearing. The spores are elliptical, 12×6µ., and black, falling away in drops.
I have found it abundantly all over the state, from May till late frost. In Figure 271 the one in the center will show the spot-like scales; on the others the bloom referred to is quite apparent; the section to the right shows the broad, ventricose gills—cream-white though slightly tinged with pink—also the shape of the stem. The plant at the extreme right has expanded and begun to deliquesce. C. atramentarius is very abundant, growing in rich soil, lawns, filled places, and gardens.
Figure 272. Plate XXXVIII. Figure 272.—Coprinus atramentarius.
Coprinus micaceus. Fr.
The Glistening Coprinus. Edible.
Figure 273. Figure 273.—Coprinus micaceus. Two-thirds natural size.
Micaceus is from micare, to glisten, and refers to the small scales on the pileus which resemble mica scales. The pileus is tawny-yellow, tan or light buff, ovate, bell-shaped; having striations radiating from near the center of the disk to the margin; glistening mica-like scales covering undisturbed young specimens; the margin somewhat revolute or wavy.
The gills are crowded, rather narrow, whitish, then tinged with pinkish or purplish-brown then black.
The stem is slender, fragile, hollow, silky, even, whitish, often twisted, one to three inches long. The spores are blackish, sometimes brown, elliptical, 10×5µ.
The Glistening Coprinus is a small but common and beautiful species. One cannot fail to recognize a Coprinus from a photograph. It is somewhat bell-shaped and marked with impressed lines or striations from the margin to or beyond the center of the disk and sprinkled with fugacious micaceous granules all of which show in Figure 273. For eating, this is without doubt the best mushroom that grows. The specimens in Figure 273 grew around an old peach stump in Dr. Miesse's yard, in Chillicothe. You will find them around any stump, especially just before a rain. If you secure a good supply and wish to keep them, partially cook them and warm them for use.
Coprinus ebulbosus. Pk.
Figure 274. Figure 274.—Coprinus ebulbosus. One-half natural size.
Ebulbosus, without being bulbous. This seems to be the difference between the American and the European plants, the latter being bulbous.
The pileus is membranaceous, at first ovate, bell-shaped, striate, variegated with broad white scales, or white patches; one to two inches broad.
The gills are free, broad, ventricose, grayish-black, soon deliquescing.
The stem is hollow, equal, fragile, smooth, four to five inches long.
Usually found where old stumps have been cut off under the ground, leaving the roots in the ground. It is very abundant. The collector will have no trouble to recognize it from Figure 274. They are found from June to October. Edible, but not as good as C. atramentarius.
Coprinus ephemerus. Fr.
The Ephemeral Coprinus. Edible.
Ephemerus, lasting for a day. This plant lasts only for a short time. It comes up in the early morning or at night and as soon as the sun's rays touch it it deliquesces into an inky fluid.
The pileus is membranaceous, very thin, oval, slightly covered with bran-like scales, disk elevated, even.
Gills are adnexed, distant, whitish, brown, then black. The stem is slender, equal, pellucid, smooth, from one to two inches high.
When this plant is fully developed it is quite a beautiful specimen, striated from margin to center. Found on dung and dung heaps and in well manured grass plots from May to October. It must be cooked at once. Its chief value is its excellent mushroom flavor.
Coprinus ovatus. Fr.
The Ovate Coprinus. Edible.
Ovatus is from ovum, an egg. It is so called from the shape of the pileus, which is somewhat membranaceous, ovate, then expanded, striate; at first woven into densely imbricated, thick, concentric scales; is bulbous, rooting, flocculose, hollow above, the ring deciduous; gills free, remote, slightly ventricose, for sometime white, then umber-blackish.
This plant is much smaller and less striking than the C. comatus, yet its edible qualities are the same. I have eaten it and found it delicious. It is found in about the same locality in which you would expect to find the C. comatus.
Coprinus fimetarius. Fr.[Pg 338]
[Pg 339]
The Shaggy Dung Coprinus.
Figure 275. Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XXXIX. Figure 275.—Coprinus fimetarius.
Fimetarius is from fimetum, a dunghill. The pileus is somewhat membranaceous, clavate, then conical, at length torn and revolute; at first rough with floccose scales, then naked; longitudinally cracked and furrowed, even at the apex. The stem is inclined to be scaly, thickened at the base, solid. The gills are free, reaching the stem, at first ventricose, then linear, brownish-black. Fries.
This is quite a variable plant. There are a number of varieties classed under this species. It is said to be of excellent flavor. I have never eaten it.
PanÆolus. Fr.
PanÆolus is from two Greek words, all; variegated. This genus is so called from the mottled appearance of the gills. The pileus is somewhat fleshy, margin even, but never striate. The margin always extends beyond the gills and the gills are not uniform in color. The mottled appearance of the gills is due to the falling of the black spores. The gills do not deliquesce.
The stem is smooth, sometimes scaly, at times quite long, hollow. The veil, when present, is interwoven.
This plant is found on rich lawns recently manured, but principally on dung.
There are only two edible species, P. retirugis and P. solidipes. The other species would not be likely to attract the attention of the ordinary collector.
PanÆolus retirugis. Fr.
The Ribbed Panaeolus. Edible.
Figure 276. Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XL. Figure 276.—Panaeolus retirugis.
Natural size, showing portions of the veil on the margin.
Retirugis is from rete, a net; ruga, a wrinkle. The pileus is about one inch in diameter, inclined to be globose, then hemispherical, slightly umbonate, center darker, with united raised ribs, sometimes sprinkled with opaque atoms; veil torn, appendiculate.
The gills are fixed, ascending, broad in middle; and in the expanded forms the gills are separated more and more from the stem and finally appear more or less triangular; cinereous-black, frequently somewhat clouded.
The stem is equal, covered with a frost-like bloom, cylindrical, sometimes tortuous, cartilaginous, becoming hollow, pinkish-purple, always darker below and paler above, bulbous.
The veil in young and unexpanded plants is quite strong and prominent; as the stem elongates it loosens from the stem, and as the cap expands it breaks[Pg 340]
[Pg 341] into segments, frequently hanging to the margin of the cap. By close observation one will sometimes detect a black band on the stem, caused by the falling of the black spores, when the plant is damp, before the pileus has separated from the stem. The spores are black and elliptical.
I have found it a number of times on the Chillicothe high school lawn, especially after it was fertilized in the winter. It is found mostly on dung from June to October. I do not recommend it as a delicacy.
PanÆolus epimyces. Pk.
Figure 277. Figure 277.—PanÆolus epimyces. Note black spores in central foreground. Note also huge masses of abortive stuff upon which it grows.
Epimyces is from epi, upon; myces, a mushroom; so called because it is parasitic on fungi. There are a number of species of mushrooms whose habitat is on other mushrooms or fungus growths; such as Collybia cirrhata, C. racemosa, C. tuberosa, Volvaria loveiana and the species of Nyctalis.
The pileus is fleshy, at first subglobose, then convex, white, silky, fibrillose, flesh white or whitish, soft.
The gills are rather broad, somewhat close, rounded behind, adnexed, dingy-white, becoming brown or blackish, with a white edge.
The stem is short, stout, tapering upwards, strongly striate and minutely mealy or pruinose; solid in the young plant, hollow in the mature, but with the cavity small; hairy, or substrigose at the base. The spores elliptical and black, .0003 to .00035 of an inch long, .0002 to .00025 broad. Peck.
The plants are small, about two thirds to an inch broad and from an inch to an inch and a half high. It is referred to this genus because of its black spores. It has other characteristics which would seem to place it better among Hypholomas. It is not common. Found in October and November. The specimens in Figure 277 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fisher.
PanÆolus campanulatus. Linn.
Bell-Shaped Panaeolus.
Campanulatus is from campanula, a little bell.
The pileus is an inch to an inch and a quarter broad, oval or bell-shaped, sometimes slightly umbonate, smooth, somewhat shining, grayish-brown, sometimes becoming reddish-tinted, the margin often fringed with fragments of the veil.
The gills are attached, not broad, ascending, variegated with gray and black.
The stem is three to five inches long, hollow, slender, firm, straight, often covered with frost-like bloom and often striate at the top, the veil remaining only a short time. The spores are subellipsoid, 8–9×6µ.
The gills do not deliquesce. It is widely distributed and is found in almost any horse pasture.
Captain McIlvaine says in his book that he has eaten it in small quantities, because larger could not be obtained, and with no other than pleasant effect. I have found it about Chillicothe quite frequently but have never eaten it. It is found from June to August.
PanÆolus fimicolus. Fr.
The Dung Panaeolus.
Fimicolus is from fimus, dung; colo, to inhabit. The pileus somewhat fleshy, convex-bell-shaped, obtuse, smooth, opaque; marked near the margin with a narrow brown zone; the stem is fragile, elongated, equal, pallid, covered with frost-like bloom above; the gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, variegated with gray and brown. Fries.
The plant is very small and unimportant. It is found on dung, as its name indicates, from June to September. The caps appear lighter in color when dry than when wet.
PanÆolus solidipes. Pk.[Pg 343]
[Pg 344]
The Solid Foot Panaeolus. Edible.
Figure 278. Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XLI. Figure 278.—Panaeolus solidipes.
Solidipes is from solidus, solid; pes, foot; and is so called because the stem of the plant is solid. The pileus is two to three inches across; firm; at first hemispherical, then subcampanulate or convex; smooth; white; the cuticle at length breaking up into dingy-yellowish, rather large, angular scales. The gills are broad, slightly attached, whitish, becoming black. The stem is five to eight inches long and two to four lines thick, firm, smooth, white, solid, slightly striate at the top. The spores are very black with a bluish tint. Peck. 23d Rep. N. Y. State Bot.
This is a large and beautiful plant and easily distinguished because of its solid stem, growing on dung. Sometimes minute drops of moisture will be seen on the upper part of the stem. The plant is said to be one of the best of mushrooms to eat.
PanÆolus papilionaceus. Fr.
The Butterfly Panaeolus.
Figure 279. Figure 279.—PanÆolus papilionaceus. Natural size.
Papilionaceus is from papilio, a butterfly.
The pileus is about an inch broad, somewhat fleshy, at first hemispherical, sometimes subumbonate, the cuticle breaking up into scales when dry, as will be seen in the photograph, pale-gray with a tinge of reddish-yellow especially on the disk, sometimes smooth.
The gills are broadly attached to the stem, quite wide, at length plane, blackish or with varying tints of black.
The stem is three to four inches long, slender, firm, equal, hollow, powdered above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow, slightly striate at the top, as will be seen in the photograph with a glass, generally stained with the spores.
The specimens in Figure 279 were found in a garden that had been strongly manured. It is usually found on dung and on grassy lawns during May and June. Captain McIlvaine in his book speaks of this mushroom producing hilarity or a mild form of intoxication. I should advise against its use.
Anellaria. Karst.
Anellaria is from anellus, a little ring. This genus is so called because of the presence of a ring on the stem.
The pileus is somewhat fleshy, smooth, and even. The gills are adnexed, dark slate-colored, variegated with black spores. The stem is central, smooth, firm, shining, ring persistent or forming a zone around the stem.
Anellaria separata. Karst.
Separata means separate or distinct.
The pileus is somewhat fleshy, bell-shaped, obtuse, even, viscid, at first ochraceous, then dingy-white, shining, smooth, wrinkled when old.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, ventricose, thin, crowded, clouded, cinereous, margin nearly white, slightly deliquescent.
The stem is long, straight, shining, white, thickened downward, ring distant, top somewhat striate, bulbous at the base. The spores are broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, 10×7µ.
It is found on dung from May to October. It is not poisonous.
Bolbitius. Fr.
Bolbitius is from a Greek word meaning cow-dung, referring to its place of growth.
The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, becoming moist; gills moist but not deliquescing, finally losing their color and becoming powdery; stem hollow and confluent with the hymenophore. As the generic name implies the plant usually grows on dung, but sometimes it is found growing on leaves and where the ground had been manured the year before. The spores are of a rusty-red color.
Bolbitius fragilis. (L.) Fr.
Fragilis means fragile.
The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, then whitish, viscid, margin striate, disk somewhat umbonate.
The gills are attenuated, adnexed, nearly free, ventricose, yellowish, then pale cinnamon.
The stem is two to three inches long, naked, smooth, yellow. The spores are rust-colored, 7×3.5, Massee. 14–15×8–9µ. Saccardo.
This species is much more delicate and fragile than B. Boltoni. I find it often in dairy pastures. It is well flavored and cooks readily. Found from June to October.
Bolbitius Boltoni. Fr.
Bolton's Bolbitius. Edible.
The pileus is somewhat fleshy, viscid, at first smooth, then the margin sulcate, disk darker and slightly depressed.
The gills are nearly adnate, yellowish, then livid-brown.
The stem is attenuated, yellowish, ring fugacious. This is rather common in dairy pastures and is found from May to September.
Psathyrella. Fr.
Psathyrella is from a Greek word meaning fragile. The members of this genus are mebranaceous, striated, margin straight, at first pressed to the stem, not extending beyond the gills. Gills adnate or free, sooty-black, not variegated. The stem is confluent with, but different in character from, the spore-bearing surface. Veil inconspicuous and generally absent.
Psathyrella disseminata. Pers.
The Clustered Psathyrella. Edible.
Figure 280. Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 280.—Psathyrella disseminata. Natural size.
Disseminata is from dissemino, to scatter. Pileus is about a half inch across, membranaceous, ovate, bell-shaped, at first scurvy, then naked; coarsely striated, margin entire; yellowish then gray. Gills adnate, narrow, whitish, then gray, finally blackish. Stem one to one and a half inches long, rather curved, mealy then smooth, fragile, hollow. Massee.
This is a very small plant, growing on grassy lawns, and very common on old trunks, and about decaying stumps.
A cluster about two yards square shows itself at intervals all summer on the Chillicothe High School lawn. The grass shows itself to be greener and thriftier there on account of fertilization by the mushroom. The entire plant is very fragile and soon melts away. I have eaten the caps raw many times and they have a rich flavor. They are found from May till frost.
Psathyrella hirta. Pk.
Hirta means hairy, rough or shaggy.
Pileus thin, hemispherical or convex, adorned when young with erect or spreading tufts of white, easily determined and quickly evanescent hairs; hygrophanous, brown or reddish-brown and slightly striatulate when moist, pale grayish-brown or dingy-whitish when dry, flesh subconcolorous; lamellÆ broad, moderately close, adnate and often furnished with a decurrent tooth, at first pallid, becoming blackish-brown or black; stem flexuose, squamose, hollow, shining, white; spores elliptical, black, .0005 to .00055 inch long, .00025 to .0003 broad.
SubcÆspitose; pileus 4 to 6 lines broad; stem 1 to 2 inches long to 1 1-5 lines thick. The specimens in Figure 281 were found in the greenhouse at the State University. When quite young tufts of white hair were very conspicuous. They are scarcely observed in mature specimens. The plants were photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
Gomphidius. Fr.
Gomphidius is from a Greek word meaning a wooden bolt or peg.
The hymenophore is decurrent on the stem. The gills are decurrent, distant, soft, somewhat mucilaginous; edge acute, pruinate with the blackish fusiform spores; veil viscoso-floccose, forming an imperfect ring around the stem.
A small, but distinct, genus, with great difference among species; intermediate by its habits between Cortinarius and Hygrophorus.
Gomphidius viscidus. Fr.
Viscid Gomphidius.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, viscid, convex, then depressed round the disk, obtusely umbonate, margin acute, reddish-brown to yellowish-brown in the center, the margin liver-color, flesh yellowish-brown.
The gills are decurrent, distant, somewhat branched, firm, elastic, rather thick, purple-brown with an olive tinge.
The stem is two to three inches high, subequal or slightly ventricose; pale yellowish-brown, fibrillose, firm, solid, slimy from the remains of the veil, which form an obsolete filamentose ring.
The spores are elongato-fusiform, 18–20×6µ.
Its favorite habitat is under pine and fir trees. Its taste is sweet and it has the mushroom smell. It is edible, but not first-class.
Found in September and October.
