122 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
accumulates in drops on: the gills as the latter melt away. 
Lawns are frequently discolored by such black inky drip- 
pings from species of Coprinus which have been per- 
mitted to go to waste. The liquefaction of the caps into 
a black fluid within a very few hours after maturity is a 
positive character by which the genus may be easily recog- 
nized. Its rapidly perishable nature excludes it from the 
markets, since the specimens become a total loss if not 
cooked within a very short time after being gathered. 
Species of this genus are a delicacy available only to those 
who know wild mushrooms. Because of its natural ten- 
dency to liquefy Coprinus is not well adapted for serving 
in the manner frequently used for the drier market mush- 
rooms, but is preferable chopped fine in a cream sauce and 
served on toast. 
The species of Coprinus which are referred to here have 
followed civilized man and are to be found on the land 
which he utilizes, very much as various grasses and other 
plants have accompanied him. They should be sought for 
on lawns where grass is kept short, rather than where it is 
permitied to grow up into meadows, and in low areas some- 
times inundated, such as the pastures, thin woods, and bot- 
toms about the Creve Coeur stop on the Missouri Pacific 
and Rock Island railroads. Do not mistake for Coprinus 
a small black-spored toadstool with cap about the size and 
form of an acorn, which is common on horse dung in 
pastures and also occurs scattered in highly manured lawns 
and pastures. This fungus, which has gills conspicuously 
mottled with black spores and a slender, straight, brittle 
stem, is a Panaeolus and produces an intoxicating effect. 
A species very similar to it, if not the same, has been 
known to cause severe poisoning when eaten in quantity. 
One should learn to recognize this small species, so that 
it may be at once rejected if found associated with edible 
forms. 
Coprinus atramentarius is the species with lead-colored 
caps which grows in dense clusters of several individuals 
from a common underground source. Several pounds may 
be secured from a good cluster in a season, if the individuals 
are removed as they mature and care is taken not to in- 
jure youne fructifications just starting at the surface of 
the ground. 
Coprinus comatus grows on lawns as scattered individuals, 
or rarely, two or more together, and has an ovoid cap about 
once to twice the size of a hen’s egg, more or less shaggy 
