Agaricacese 



Coprinus. base, slightly attenuated upward, silky-white, stuffed; toward the base 

 there is a depressed zone caused by the edge of the pileus when young. 

 King fugacious. Spores elliptical, 15x7^. 



Amongst grass near to trunks, buried wood, etc. A very large and 

 beautiful species, distinguished from Coprinus atramentarius, its nearest 

 ally, by the larger size of every part, the costate (ribbed) or waved 

 lower portion of the pileus, the truncate, depressed disk, with distinct 

 squamules, the whitish color of the pileus, and the imperfectly hollow or 

 stuffed stem. 



Spores elliptical, 15x7/4 Massee. 



Almshouse grounds, Philadelphia. On maple roots in grass-grown 

 places, May, 18971898. Mcllvaine. Not previously noted in United 

 States. 



C. soboliferus is a substantial food-giving species, very heavy for its 

 size. It grows singly and in clusters and will immediately attract atten- 

 tion, wherever found. It is of fine flavor and substance. Cook at once. 



C. OVa'tus (Schaeff. ) Fr. ovum, an egg. Pileus white, somewhat 

 membranaceous, at the first egg-shaped and densely imbricated with 

 thick spreading concentric scales, covered with an even hood at the apex, 

 then expanded, striate. Stem 3-4 in. long, solid at the base, rooting, 

 otherwise hollow, with spider-web threads within, attenuated upward, 

 downy, shining white. Ring not very conspicuous and soon vanishing. 

 Gills free, remote, slightly ventricose, at the first somewhat naked and 

 remaining long shining white, at length timber-blackish, never becoming 

 purple. 



Smaller, thinner, less handsome than C. comatus. For the most part 

 solitary. Fries. 



Spores 1 1-12x7-8/4 Massee. 



On rich ground, dumps, etc. Same habitat as C. comatus. 



West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey. Mcll- 

 vaine. 



So closely allied to C. comatus that it is with difficulty distinguished 

 from it. However, its edible qualities are the same, and into these the 

 name does not enter. 



C. sterquili'nus Fr. sterquilinium , a dunghill. Pileus about 2 in. 

 across when expanded, conical, then expanded, sulcate more than hali 



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