Genus Coprinus. 
*37 
Section III. 
Volva and ring absent. Veil practically absent , pileus 
either glabrous , or with minute innate squamides , especially 
near the apex. 26-42. 
(Usually large ; closely allied to the last section, differing 
only in the ring being obsolete. Differs from the glabrous 
group in Section VI in the pileus not splitting along the lines 
of the gills.) 
* Gills attached to the stem. 26-34. 
** Gills free. 35-42. 
Section IV. 
Volva and ring absent ; veil very evident — at least in the 
young state — under the form of a felt-like layer , which breaks 
up during expansion into irregular patches ; cottony ; squamu- 
lose ; fibrillose ; or mealy (but not glistening and micaceous). 
43-101. 
(The presence of a universal veil, and the entire absence 
of volva and ring, characterizes this, the largest section of 
Coprinus. The presence of a universal veil implies the 
existence, at some stage, of a volva, but there is no trace 
of the latter even during a very young stage, hence for 
convenience it is described as absent, as in many other genera 
in the Agaricineae.) 
* Veil rather thick and felty, breaking up into irregular, 
more or less persistent, patches during the 
expansion of the pileus. 43-49. 
t Gills attached to the stem. 43-44. 
ff Gills free. 45-49. 
** Veil breaking up into superficial scales, cottony, or 
fibrillose. 50-92. 
f Gills attached to the stem. 50-68. 
§ Pileus whitish or grey. 50-60. 
§§ Pileus tawny or brownish. 61-68. 
ff Gills free. 69-92. 
