The article of Dr. Penzig (to which Bresadola refers), is found 
in Nouvo Giornali Botanico Italiano 1880, p. 182. It is in Italian, 
therefore unreadable (to us), but the conclusions evidently are that the 
Ozonium is the mycelium of Coprinus. I do not understand, however, 
exactly what the connection is. The radiating mycelium at the base 
of the plant (fig. 69), is white. Ozonium is always reddish brown. 
Rarely do we find specimens with the 
white mycelium so strongly developed as 
in the plant selected for illustration. 
In regard to the identity of the 
species of Coprinus, we do not know 
under what name it appears in American 
literature. Such a common plant must 
have been noticed, and probably mas¬ 
querades as a new species somewhere. 
Dr. Penzig (loc. cited), describes 
it as a new species, Coprinus intermedius, 
and his description and figure is exactly 
the plant we have at Cincinnati, thus 
confirming the position that the Ozonium 
is the mycelium of this particular plant. 
Prof. Patouillard, to whom we sent speci¬ 
mens, determines it as Coprinus radians. 
It has but little resemblance to Cooke’s figure, and still less to Massee’s. 
In addition, Coprinus radians in English books seems to be a species 
that only occurs on plastered walls. 
The only reference I have found to the color of the spores, (save 
Penzig, loc. cited where they are correctly described as brown-black), 
is Massee “ violet-black,” ascribed to radians. The spores of our plant 
in mass when fresh and moist are brown , as brown as the spores of any 
Psalliota that ever grew (*). But in drying they turn darker, almost 
black. I have found in all books I have consulted that the spores 
of Coprinus are described as black, and no allowance is made for the 
inclusion of any brown-spored species. 
Fig. 69. 
Coprinus radians. 
258—DISTRIBUTION OF MITREMYCES. 
We hope that everyone who meets specimens of Mitremyces 
growing will favor us with at least a few specimens of each species 
that we may study their distribution. There is something very mys¬ 
terious about it. Mitremyces cinnabarinus is a common plant that we 
have found growing in the Alleghenies. There seems to be some 
sections, however, (as at Washington, D. C., and at Rugby, Tenn.), 
where the two other species grow, and Mitremyces cinnabarinus is not 
found. H. M. Caldwell, of Rugby, Tenn., has just sent us a fine lot 
of Mitremyces Ravenelii and lutescens, but does not find cinnabarinus. 
In connection with the Mitremyces subject, we have received a 
letter from Mrs. M. S. Percival, of Rugby, Tenn., stating that she 
(*) Those who work with Coprinus in this country know that we have two common species 
with brown spores. The plant under consideration and Coprinus puleherifolius. But it is only 
when the spores are fresh and moist. They turn almost black when dry, hence it is not practi¬ 
cable to take them out of the genus Coprinus. 
146 
