Black-spored Series 



Inky Coprinus (Edible) 



Coprinus atramentarius 



Cap or Pileus — Cylindrical at first, broadening by degrees until it 

 is cone-shaped. Colour greyish or greyish brown, with sug- 

 gestions of lead colour. Smooth or with a few obscure 

 scales on the disk. Often suffused with bloom. The mar- 

 gin sometimes notched or lobed. Deliquescing. 1-3 inches 

 in diameter. 



Stem or Stipe — Slender, smooth, whitish, hollow. 



Ring or Annulus — A slight vestige of one may be seen to extend 

 around the stem near the base as an irregular zigzag ele- 

 vated line of threads. 



GUIs or Lamellce — Crowded. At first whitish and flocculose on 

 the edges, then black, moist, dropping away in inky fluid. 



Spores-^'^\2iC\, elliptical. 



Flesh — ^White, quickly deliquescing. 



Time — Autumn. 



Habitat — Rich soil, waste places, woods. 



The form growing in the woods is much more beautiful and 

 is known as C. atramentarius, var. silvestris. See plate facing 

 page 89. 



Glistening Coprinus (Edible) 



Coprinus micaceus 



Cap or Rkus — Ovate, then bell-shaped. Striations radiating 

 from near the centre of the disk to the margin. Glistening 

 mica-like scales cover undisturbed young specimens. 1-2 

 inches broad. Colour tan, light buff, or tawny yellow. 



Stem or Stipe — Slender, smooth, fragile, white, hollow. 1-3 inches 

 long. 



Ring or Annulus — Rarely seen except in very young specimens. 



Gills or LamellcR — Not as crowded as in the ink cap and shaggy- 

 mane. Colour white, then tinged with pinkish or purplish 

 brown, finally black. 



Spores — Brown, elliptical. 



Flesh — A nutty flavour when raw. In wet weather it melts to 

 an inky fluid. In dry weather it may dry with all parts 

 well preserved. 



Time — Common during spring and early autumn. 



The glistening coprinus is small and beautiful, and grows in 

 clusters on decaying woods, stumps, or buried roots. 



At'-rS-mSn-ta'-ri-Ss Mi-ca'-je-iis 



91 



