SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 41 



yellowish or darker, and show the white llcsli lKMic:ith. split iiii« from tlie 

 mar^'in ahmjr tlie lines of the sills; tlie f;ills are broad, crowded, In-f, wliito, 

 soon heeonuMj; jtiidv or sahnon colored and clianj.dnfi to puriilisli black just 

 previous to deli(iucscence ; the stem is brittle, smooth or librillose, hollow, 

 thick, attenuated upward, sometimes sliKhtly bulbous at base, easily separating 

 from' the cap; the rin^ is thin, movable. 



The cap is usually IVa to 3 inches long; the stem is 2 to 4 inches l(»ng and 

 4 to (5 lines thick. 



This species has a wide geographic distribution and is uiuversally enjoyed 

 by mycophagists. The fungus is very attractive when young, often white, 

 again showing gray, 

 tawny, or pinkish tints. 

 It apiiears in the sitriim 

 and fail, sometimes soli- 

 tary, s o m e t i ni e s in 

 groui)s, on lawns, in rich 

 soil, or in gardens. 



COPRINUS ATRAMEXTARl- 

 TJ8. INKY CAP. (EDIBLE I 



(Fig. 38 I 



In this mushroom the 

 cap is ovate, slightl.v ex- 

 panding, silvery to dark 

 gray or b r o w n i s h, 

 smooth, silky or with 

 small scales, especially 

 at the center, often pli- 

 cate and lobed w i t h 

 notched margin; the 

 gills are broad, ventri- 

 cose, crowded, f r e e, 

 white, soon changing to 

 pinkish gray, then be- 

 coming black and deli- 

 quescent; the stem is 

 smooth, shining, whitish, 

 hollow, attenuated uj*- 

 ward, readily separating 

 from the cap ; the ring 

 is near the base of stem, 

 evanescent. 



FiGiUfK .'iS. — Vu/jfinus utniiiitnliii ins (.t^mooth form). 

 (Edible) 



The cap is iy_. to 4 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 4 inches long and 4 to 7 

 lines thick. 



This species appears from spring to autumn, particularly after rains. It 

 grows singly or in dense clusters on rich ground, lawns, gardens, or waste 

 places. It has long been esteemed as an edible species. Coprinus atramcn- 

 tarius differs from C. comatiifi in the more or less smooth, oval cap and the 

 imperfect, basal, evanescent ring. 



COPRINUS MICACEUS. MICA INKY CAP. 



In this species the cap is ovate. bell-shaiied, light tan to brown, darker when 

 moist or old, often glistening fr«un minute, micalike ]iarticles, margin closely 

 striate, splitting, and revolute ; the .sills .ire narrow, crowded, white, then pink 

 before becoming black ; stem is slender, white, hollow, fragile, often twisted. 



The cap is 1 to 2 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 lines 

 thick. 



This glisteiung little species occurs very commonly at the base of trees or 

 springing from dead roots along pavements, or mori> uncommonly on prostrate 

 logs in shady woods. The plants api)ear in great profusion in the spring and 

 early summer, and more sparingly during the fall. Coiirinux tnica<-i u.s- is a very 

 delicious mushroom and lends itself to various methods of preparation. 



