COPRINUS. 



347 



8x6 mk. IV.G.S. Na.me—dtssemi?/L>, to scatter. Widely spread. Pers. Psathyrella. 

 Sy». p. 403. Ff. Motiogr. i. p. 451. Hym. Eur. p. 316. Berk. Out. p. 

 176. C. Hbk. 71. 452. S. Mycol. Scot. ti. 421. Quel. t. 8./ 5. — A. major. 

 Sow. t. 166. Paul. t. 123. /. 6. — B. minor, disc at length papillate. Fl. 

 Dan. t. 1848. Schceff. t. 308" (quite young). Batschf. 3. Buxb. C. ii. t. 50. 

 /. 5. Batt. t. 27. C. 



Genus II. — Montagnites (after Montagne). Fr. Epicr. p. 240. Montagnites. 



The universal veil forming a volva, persistent. Stem dilated at 

 the apex into a plane round disc, even on both sides, to the mar- 

 gin of which are adjixcd the gills which are free, not joined by any 

 membrane, radiating, razor-shaped, persistent, obtuse at the edge. 

 Trama cellulose. Spores oblong, even, black fuscous. Fr. Hym. 

 Eur. p. 319. 



No British species. 



V 



Genus III.— Coprinus {Koirpos, dung). Pers. Fr. Epicr. p. 241. Coprinus. 



Hymenophore separate from the stem. Gills membranaceous, 

 at first closely pressed together and cohering, scissile, at length 

 melting away into a black fluid. 

 Trama obsolete. Spores oval, even, 

 black. 



A very distinct and sharply de- 

 fined genus. Fugacious fungi, most 

 of them furnished with a floccose or 

 furfuraceous universal veil. Gills 

 linear or ventricose, whence the ori- 

 ginal form of the pileus is cylindrical 

 or ovate. Fr. Hym. Eur. p. 320. 



The gills in this very natural genus 

 are fully developed when the fungus 

 first makes its appearance. The bio- 

 logical difference of the gills, as 

 compared with those of Agaricus, is 

 much more remarkable than the 

 characters which distinguish most 

 genera. The species are of rapid growth, often ephemeral. They 



XXXVII. Coprinus coniattis. 

 One-fourth natural size. 



