Black-spored Series 



Inky Coprinus (Edible) 



Copriiius atramentariiis 



Cap or Pikus — Cylindrical at first, broadening by degrees until it 

 is cone-shaped. Colour greyish or greyish brown, with sug- 

 gestions of lead colour. Smooth or' with a few obscure 

 scales on the disk. Often suffused with bloom. The mar- 

 gin sometimes notched or lobed. Deliquescing. 1-3 inches 

 in diameter. 



Stem or Stipe — Slender, smooth, whitish, hollow. 



Ring or A/mii/us — A slight vestige of one may be seen to extend 

 around the stem near the base as an irregular zigzag ele- 

 vated line of threads. 



Gills or Lamellae — Crowded. At first whitish and flocculose on 

 the edges, then black, moist, dropping away in inky fluid. 



Spores — Black, elliptical. 



Flesh — White, quickly deliquescing. 



Time — Autumn. 



Habitat — Rich soil, waste places, woods. 



The form growing in the woods is much more beautiful and 

 is known as C. atramentariiis, var. silvestris. See plate facing 

 page 89. 



Glistening- Coprinus (Edible) 



Coprinus micaceiis 



Cap or Pileus—0M2iiQ, then bell-shaped. Striations radiating 

 from near the centre of the disk to the margin. Glistening 

 mica-like scales cover undisturbed young specimens. 1-2 

 inches broad. Colour tan, light buff, or tawny yellow. 



Stem or Stipe — Slender, smooth, fragile, white, hollow. 1-3 inches 

 long. 



Ring or Annuhis — Rarely seen except in very young specimens. 



Gills or Lamelhe — Not as crowded as in the ink cap and shaggy- 

 mane. Colour white, then tinged with pinkish or purplish 

 brown, finally black. 



Spores — Brown, elliptical. 



Flesh — A nutty flavour when raw. In wet weather it melts to 

 an inky fluid. In dry weather it may dry with all parts 

 well preserved. 



Time — Common during spring and early autumn. 



The glistening coprinus is small and beautiful, and grows in 

 clusters on decaying woods, stumps, or buried roots. 



A.t -ri-m^n-ta -il-us Ml-ca -^e-us 



91 



