COPRINUS MICACEUS 



341 



C. sterquilinus, and C. atramentarins, as well as from those of the 

 other species of Coprinus, in that the basidia are tetramorphic 



instead of being dimorphic. , , 



Fom* generations of basidia 

 develop instead of two. 

 In Coprinus micaceus, the 

 zone of spore-discharge is 

 subdivided into four sub- 

 zones instead of the usual 

 two. 



The Structure of the 

 Gills. — A transverse sec- 

 tion taken through a pileus 

 prior to the formation of 

 the spores on the basidia 

 and prior to expansion 

 presents the appearance 

 shown in Fig. 152. The 

 furrows in the flesh, which 

 open out as the pileus 

 expands, correspond in 

 position with the median 

 planes of the long gills. 

 The scale at the top of the 

 Figure enables one to 

 measure the thickness of fig. 152 

 the pileus-flesh and of the 

 gills, and thus to realise 

 how very thin they are 

 relatively to those of the 



Coprintts micaceus. Shape and thick- 

 ness of the gills. Horizontal section through 

 part of an unexpanded pileus. Oval 

 cystidia are present on the sides of the 

 lamellae but, as a rule, do not stretch right 

 across the interlamellar spaces. At this 

 stage, basidia are developing but as yet 

 are without sf)ores. Magnification, 24. 



Mushroom and other aequi- 

 hymeniiferous fungi. The short gills are more or less wedge-shaped 

 and are packed neatly between the long gills. The long gills are 

 for the most part subparallel-sided, but become contracted in 

 thickness near the stipe ; and, just where they abut upon the stipe, 

 they appear to be slightly swollen owing to their margms being 

 clothed by large cystidia. Although the long gills are contracted 



