304 FUNGUS-FLOKA. 



COPEINUS. Pers, (figs. 1, 6, 10-13, 15, p. 303). 



Pileus stipitate, flesh very tliin or even quite membra- 

 naceous, veil generally universal, sometimes forming an ad- 

 nata volva round tlie base of the stem, and furnished with a 

 free border, usually flocoose or scurfy on the expanded pileus ; 

 gills at first closely in contact laterally, , eventually deli- 

 quescing into a fluid coloured black by the spores; stem 

 usually hollow ; spores black at maturity. 



Goprinus, Pers., Syn., in part; Fries, Epic, p. 241; Fries, 

 Hym. Eur., p. 320 ; Cke., Hdbk., p. 224. 



A very distinct and natural genus, and sharply defined, 

 more especially by the peculiarities of the gills or lamellae, 

 which are at first closely coherent laterally, being apparently 

 agglutinated, but eventually becoming separate and free 

 from each other, and by becoming at maturity resolved into 

 a black inky fluid ; most of the species are very ephemeral, 

 the sporophore in many springing up, attaining maturity, 

 and completely disappearing again within twenty-four hours. 

 Oystidia of large size are present in large numbers in the 

 hymenium of many species. 



The majority of species grow on dung or on richly ma- 

 nured ground, but a few also occur on rotten wood, damp 

 carpets, walls, &c. 



In the Ochrosporae, the genus BoTbitius agrees with Ooprinus 

 in the ephemeral existence of the species, in the soft, de- 

 liquescent gills, and also in most frequently growing on 

 dung or in places where dung abounds. 



ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIES OF COPBINUS. 



Tribe I. Pelliculosi.— Gills covered with a distinct fleshy 

 or membranaceous cuticle, therefore the pileus does not split 

 along the lines of the gills, but becomes lacerated and 

 revolute. 



* Gomati. — Eing formed from the free margin of the volva ; 

 cuticle torn into scales. 



** Atramentarii. — With an imperfect ring (not volvate), 

 squamules of pileus, minute, innate. 



