GILL FUNGI 



79' 



wliik', iiu'ah' al)()\T, hollow; <; i 1 1 s adiiatc or adnexcd, whiti-. tlu-ii pink, and finally 

 dull brown; s p o r l- s darkish, ellipsoid, ()-H yi. 3--\ii. 'I'hc name refers to the in- 

 complete curtain at the margin. 



Densely clustered on trunks or stum])s, summer and autumn; excellent. 



Black-spored Gill Fungi Melanosporae 



Spores black or blackish, not ])ur})le or ])rown. 



KEY TO THE GENKKA 



(jills dissolving into a black ink 

 Gills not dissolving 



a. Stem with a ring 



b. Stem without a ring 



( 1 ) Gills not decurrent 



(a) Cap fleshy, smooth, not furrowed 



(b) Cap) memliranous, furrowed 



(2) Gills long decurrent 



COPRINUS 



Distinguished from all gill fungi by its black spores and dissolving gills. It 

 is related to B o 1 b i t i u s, which has ocher spores. This genus contains several 

 of the best of all edible fungi, and is fortunately readily recognized even by the 

 novice. On the second or third dav. tlie caps expand more or less completely, and 

 the gills begin to dissolve, forming a black inky liijuid. .\s this dries, the gills be- 

 come mere lines. The blackening of the gills begins early, but the caps are good 

 until the gills begin to dissolve. The name refers to the habit of growing on dung 

 or in richly manured ground. 



Key to the Species 



1. Cap shaggy with scales, oblong or cylindric; ring usually 



present 



2. Cap smooth or scaly, not shaggy, ovoid or bell-shaped ; 



ring usually lacking 



a. Cap with tufted white scales when young; on dung 



b. Cap smooth or somewhat scaly or mealy 



( 1 ) Cap thick, even, grayish or lead-colored 



(2) Cap thin, striate, yellowish or lirownish 



C. ^ coma f us 



C. fimetarius 



C. atramentariiis 

 G. micaceus 



