SPORE-DISCHARGE FROM AGARICINEAE 



99 



The Spore-fall Period of Coprinus curtus. 



The data recorded in the Table show that the largest of the 

 fruit-bodies observed shed their spores in less than 2 5 hours and the 

 smallest in about 30 minutes. It is conceivable that some of the 

 smallest dwarfs of this species, i.e. those having a pileus diameter 

 of only 1-5 mm., shed their spores under favourable conditions in 

 about 15 minutes. 



The data recorded in the Table also show that, on the whole, 

 the larger the fruit-body, the longer the spore-fall period. This, of 

 course, is correlated with the fact that the zone of spore-discharge 

 must traverse a greater radial distance in larger fruit-bodies than 

 in smaller ones. All fruit-bodies are not equally vigorous, for I have 

 sometimes noticed that, of two fruit-bodies having pilei of the same 

 size and growing as near neighbours in the same culture, one opens 

 its pileus and sheds its spores somewhat quicker than the other. 

 The duration of the spore-fall period of any fruit-body is therefore 

 affected not merely by the size of the pileus but also by its rate of 

 development. 



A single observation similar to those just recorded for Coprinus 

 curtus was made on a small fruit-body of Coprinus lagopus. This 

 fruit-body possessed a stipe which, when fully extended, was 

 27 mm. long and a pileus which, when fully expanded, was about 

 5 mm. in diameter. The duration of its spore-fall period was 

 1 hour 35 minutes. I have no doubt that the dwarf fruit-bodies of 

 Coprinus lagopus, which were described in Chapter III and which 

 have pilei from 1 to 3 mm. wide, are able to liberate all their spores 

 in a few minutes just as do the smallest fruit-bodies of C. curtus. 



