GENERA AND SPECIES OF MUSHROOMS 



thin and perishable that they are not valuable as food. 

 Even the larger ones have thin caps, and those deemed 

 edible should be gathered young and cooked promptly if 

 used as food. The three species described below are common 

 and edible. 



Species of Coprinus 



Coprinus atramentarius ; inky coprinus; common ink- 

 cap. Plate VIII, Species 37. 



In clusters in rich soil, in gardens, waste places or in woods; 

 late summer and autimin; edible. 



Cap egg-shaped when young, becoming expanded; smooth 

 or with a few faint spot-like scales in the center; grayish- 

 brown, often with a yellowish tint, blackening when old; 

 margin som.etimes irregularly notched or lobed; flesh white, 

 soon liquefying; i to 3 inches broad. 



Gills close together (crowded); white when yoimg, soon 

 becoming black and liquefying. 



Stem rather slender; smooth; hollow; white or whitish; 

 sometimes with a slight vestige of a ring near the base, but 

 it soon disappears; 2 to 4 inches long. 



Spores elliptical; black; .0003 to .0004 inches long. 



The inky coprinus is much less attractive than the Shaggy 

 coprinus (Coprinus comatus). 



The form growing in woods is generally smaller and more 

 beautiful than that growing in open places. 



The cap is sometimes suffused as if with a bloom (powder). 

 It deliquesces rapidly and it is therefore more available for 

 catsup than for food. If intended for the table it must be 

 cooked as soon as brought to the house. Peck. 



This excellent edible species is quite common in rich soil 

 on lawns and elsewhere during late summer and autumn. 

 As it appears in close clusters, it may be obtained in greater 



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