SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 



41 



yellowish or darker, and show the white flesh beneath, splitting from the 

 margin along the lines of the gills ; the gills are broad, crowded, free, white, 

 soon becoming pink or salmon colored and changing to purplish black just 

 previous to deliquescence ; the stem is brittle, smooth or fibrillose, hollow, 

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

 from the cap ; the ring is thin, movable. 



The cap is usually 1% to 3 inches long ; the stem is 2 to 4 inches long and 

 4 to 6 lines thick. 



This species has a wide geographic distribution and is universally enjoyed 

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

 again showing gray, 

 tawny, or pinkish tints. 

 It appears in the spring 

 and fall, sometimes soli- 

 tary, sometimes in 

 groups, on lawns, in rich 

 soil, or in gardens. 



COPRINUS ATRAMENTARI- 

 TJS. INKY CAP. (EDIBLE) 



(Fig. 38 ) 



In this mushroom the 

 cap is ovate, slightly ex- 

 panding, silvery to dark 

 gray or brownish, 

 smooth, silky or with 

 small scales, especially 

 at the center, often pli- 

 cate and lobed with 

 notched margin; the 

 gills are broad, ventri- 

 cose, crowded, free, 

 white, soon changing to 

 pinkish gray, then be- 

 coming black and deli- 

 quescent ; the stem is 

 smooth, shining, whitish, 

 hollow, attenuated up- 

 ward, readily separating 

 from the cap; the ring 

 is near the base of stem, 

 evanescent. 



The cap is 1% 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 atramen- 

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

 imperfect, basal, evanescent ring. 



Figure 38.- 



-Coprinus atramentarius (smooth form). 

 (Edible) 



COPRINUS MICACEUS. MICA INKY CAP. (EDIBLE) 



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

 moist or old, often glistening from minute, micalike particles, margin closely 

 striate, splitting, and revolute ; the gills are 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 glistening little species occurs very commonly at the base of trees or 

 springing from dead roots along pavements, or more uncommonly on prostrate 

 logs in shady woods. The plants appear in great profusion in the spring and 

 early summer, and more sparingly during the fall. Coprinus micaceus is a very 

 delicious mushroom and lends itself to various methods of preparation. 



