THE BLACK-SPORED AGARICS.
The genera belonging to this series have black spores. There is an
entire absence of purple or brown shades. The genus Gomphidius, placed
in this series for other reasons, has dingy-olivaceous spores.
_Coprinus. Pers._
Coprinus is from a Greek word meaning dung. This genus can be readily
recognized from the black spores and from the deliquescence of the gills
and cap into an inky substance. Many of the species grow in dung, as the
name implies, or on recently manured ground. Some grow in flat rich
ground, or where there has been a fill, or on dumping grounds; some grow
on wood and around old stumps.
The pileus separates easily from the stem. The gills are membranaceous,
closely pressed together. The spores, with few exceptions, are black.
Most of the species are edible, but many are of such small size that
they are easily overlooked.
_Coprinus comatus. Fr._
THE SHAGGY MANE COPRINUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by Prof Shaftner._
Figure 269.--Coprinus comatus.]
[Illustration: Figure 270.--Coprinus comatus. One-half natural size.]
Comatus is from coma, having long hair, shaggy. It is so called from a
fancied resemblance to a wig on a barber's block. A description is
hardly necessary with a photograph before us. They always remind us of a
congregation of goose eggs standing on end. This plant cannot be
confounded with any other, and the finder is the happy possessor of a
rich, savory morsel that cannot be duplicated in any market.
The pileus is fleshy, moist, at first egg-shaped, cylindrical, becoming
bell-shaped, seldom expanded, splitting at the margin along the line of
the gills, adorned with scattered yellowish scales, tinged with
purplish-black, yet sometimes entirely white; surface shaggy.
The gills are free, crowded, equal, creamy white, becoming pink, brown,
then black, and dripping an inky fluid.
The stem is three to eight inches long, hollow, smooth, or slightly
fibrillose, tapering upward, creamy-white, brittle, easily separating
from the cap, slightly bulbous at the base. The ring is rarely adherent
or movable in young plants, later lying on the ground at the base of the
stem or disappearing altogether. The spores are black and elliptical,
and are shed in liquid drops.
Found in damp rich ground, gardens, rich lawns, barnyards, and dumping
grounds. They often grow in large clusters. They are found everywhere in
great abundance, from May till late frost. A weak stomach can digest any
of the Coprini when almost any other food will give it trouble. I am
always pleased to give a dish of any Coprini to an invalid.
_Coprinus atramentarius. Fr._
THE INKY COPRINUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 271.--Coprinus atramentarius. Two-thirds natural
size.]
Atramentarius means black ink. The pileus is at first egg-shaped, gray
or grayish-brown, smooth, except that there is a slight scaly
appearance; often covered with a marked bloom, margin ribbed, often
notched, soft, tender, becoming expanded, when it melts away in inky
fluid.
The gills are broad, close, ventricose, creamy-white in young specimens,
becoming pinkish-gray, then black, moist, melting away in inky drops.
The stem is slender, two to four inches in length, hollow, smooth,
tapering upward, easily separating from the cap, with slight vestige of
a collar near the base when young but soon disappearing. The spores
are elliptical, 12x6u., and black, falling away in drops.
I have found it abundantly all over the state, from May till late frost.
In Figure 271 the one in the center will show the spot-like scales; on
the others the bloom referred to is quite apparent; the section to the
right shows the broad, ventricose gills--cream-white though slightly
tinged with pink--also the shape of the stem. The plant at the extreme
right has expanded and begun to deliquesce. C. atramentarius is very
abundant, growing in rich soil, lawns, filled places, and gardens.
[Illustration: Plate XXXVIII. Figure 272.--Coprinus atramentarius.]
_Coprinus micaceus. Fr._
THE GLISTENING COPRINUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 273.--Coprinus micaceus. Two-thirds natural size.]
Micaceus is from _micare_, to glisten, and refers to the small scales on
the pileus which resemble mica scales. The pileus is tawny-yellow, tan
or light buff, ovate, bell-shaped; having striations radiating from near
the center of the disk to the margin; glistening mica-like scales
covering undisturbed young specimens; the margin somewhat revolute or
wavy.
The gills are crowded, rather narrow, whitish, then tinged with pinkish
or purplish-brown then black.
The stem is slender, fragile, hollow, silky, even, whitish, often
twisted, one to three inches long. The spores are blackish, sometimes
brown, elliptical, 10x5u.
The Glistening Coprinus is a small but common and beautiful species. One
cannot fail to recognize a Coprinus from a photograph. It is somewhat
bell-shaped and marked with impressed lines or striations from the
margin to or beyond the center of the disk and sprinkled with fugacious
micaceous granules all of which show in Figure 273. For eating, this is
without doubt the best mushroom that grows. The specimens in Figure 273
grew around an old peach stump in Dr. Miesse's yard, in Chillicothe. You
will find them around any stump, especially just before a rain. If you
secure a good supply and wish to keep them, partially cook them and warm
them for use.
_Coprinus ebulbosus. Pk._
[Illustration: Figure 274.--Coprinus ebulbosus. One-half natural size.]
_Ebulbosus_, without being bulbous. This seems to be the difference
between the American and the European plants, the latter being bulbous.
The pileus is membranaceous, at first ovate, bell-shaped, striate,
variegated with broad white scales, or white patches; one to two inches
broad.
The gills are free, broad, ventricose, grayish-black, soon deliquescing.
The stem is hollow, equal, fragile, smooth, four to five inches long.
Usually found where old stumps have been cut off under the ground,
leaving the roots in the ground. It is very abundant. The collector will
have no trouble to recognize it from Figure 274. They are found from
June to October. Edible, but not as good as C. atramentarius.
_Coprinus ephemerus. Fr._
THE EPHEMERAL COPRINUS. EDIBLE.
Ephemerus, lasting for a day. This plant lasts only for a short time. It
comes up in the early morning or at night and as soon as the sun's rays
touch it it deliquesces into an inky fluid.
The pileus is membranaceous, very thin, oval, slightly covered with
bran-like scales, disk elevated, even.
Gills are adnexed, distant, whitish, brown, then black. The stem is
slender, equal, pellucid, smooth, from one to two inches high.
When this plant is fully developed it is quite a beautiful specimen,
striated from margin to center. Found on dung and dung heaps and in well
manured grass plots from May to October. It must be cooked at once. Its
chief value is its excellent mushroom flavor.
_Coprinus ovatus. Fr._
THE OVATE COPRINUS. EDIBLE.
_Ovatus is from ovum_, an egg. It is so called from the shape of the
pileus, which is somewhat membranaceous, ovate, then expanded, striate;
at first woven into densely imbricated, thick, concentric scales; is
bulbous, rooting, flocculose, hollow above, the ring deciduous; gills
free, remote, slightly ventricose, for sometime white, then
umber-blackish.
This plant is much smaller and less striking than the C. comatus, yet
its edible qualities are the same. I have eaten it and found it
delicious. It is found in about the same locality in which you would
expect to find the C. comatus.
_Coprinus fimetarius. Fr._
THE SHAGGY DUNG COPRINUS.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Plate XXXIX. Figure 275.--Coprinus fimetarius.]
_Fimetarius is from fimetum, a dunghill._ The pileus is somewhat
membranaceous, clavate, then conical, at length torn and revolute; at
first rough with floccose scales, then naked; longitudinally cracked and
furrowed, even at the apex. The stem is inclined to be scaly, thickened
at the base, solid. The gills are free, reaching the stem, at first
ventricose, then linear, brownish-black. _Fries._
This is quite a variable plant. There are a number of varieties classed
under this species. It is said to be of excellent flavor. I have never
eaten it.
_Panaeolus. Fr._
Panaeolus is from two Greek words, all; variegated. This genus is so
called from the mottled appearance of the gills. The pileus is somewhat
fleshy, margin even, but never striate. The margin always extends beyond
the gills and the gills are not uniform in color. The mottled appearance
of the gills is due to the falling of the black spores. The gills do not
deliquesce.
The stem is smooth, sometimes scaly, at times quite long, hollow. The
veil, when present, is interwoven.
This plant is found on rich lawns recently manured, but principally on
dung.
There are only two edible species, P. retirugis and P. solidipes. The
other species would not be likely to attract the attention of the
ordinary collector.
_Panaeolus retirugis. Fr._
THE RIBBED PANAEOLUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Plate XL. Figure 276.--Panaeolus retirugis. Natural size, showing
portions of the veil on the margin.]
Retirugis is from rete, a net; ruga, a wrinkle. The pileus is about one
inch in diameter, inclined to be globose, then hemispherical, slightly
umbonate, center darker, with united raised ribs, sometimes sprinkled
with opaque atoms; veil torn, appendiculate.
The gills are fixed, ascending, broad in middle; and in the expanded
forms the gills are separated more and more from the stem and finally
appear more or less triangular; cinereous-black, frequently somewhat
clouded.
The stem is equal, covered with a frost-like bloom, cylindrical,
sometimes tortuous, cartilaginous, becoming hollow, pinkish-purple,
always darker below and paler above, bulbous.
The veil in young and unexpanded plants is quite strong and prominent;
as the stem elongates it loosens from the stem, and as the cap expands
it breaks into segments, frequently hanging to the margin of the cap.
By close observation one will sometimes detect a black band on the stem,
caused by the falling of the black spores, when the plant is damp,
before the pileus has separated from the stem. The spores are black and
elliptical.
I have found it a number of times on the Chillicothe high school lawn,
especially after it was fertilized in the winter. It is found mostly on
dung from June to October. I do not recommend it as a delicacy.
_Panaeolus epimyces. Pk._
[Illustration: Figure 277.--Panaeolus epimyces. Note black spores in
central foreground. Note also huge masses of abortive stuff upon which
it grows.]
Epimyces is from _epi_, upon; _myces_, a mushroom; so called because it
is parasitic on fungi. There are a number of species of mushrooms whose
habitat is on other mushrooms or fungus growths; such as Collybia
cirrhata, C. racemosa, C. tuberosa, Volvaria loveiana and the species of
Nyctalis.
The pileus is fleshy, at first subglobose, then convex, white, silky,
fibrillose, flesh white or whitish, soft.
The gills are rather broad, somewhat close, rounded behind, adnexed,
dingy-white, becoming brown or blackish, with a white edge.
The stem is short, stout, tapering upwards, strongly striate and
minutely mealy or pruinose; solid in the young plant, hollow in the
mature, but with the cavity small; hairy, or substrigose at the base.
The spores elliptical and black, .0003 to .00035 of an inch long, .0002
to .00025 broad. _Peck._
The plants are small, about two thirds to an inch broad and from an inch
to an inch and a half high. It is referred to this genus because of its
black spores. It has other characteristics which would seem to place it
better among Hypholomas. It is not common. Found in October and
November. The specimens in Figure 277 were found in Michigan and
photographed by Dr. Fisher.
_Panaeolus campanulatus. Linn._
BELL-SHAPED PANAEOLUS.
Campanulatus is from _campanula_, a little bell.
The pileus is an inch to an inch and a quarter broad, oval or
bell-shaped, sometimes slightly umbonate, smooth, somewhat shining,
grayish-brown, sometimes becoming reddish-tinted, the margin often
fringed with fragments of the veil.
The gills are attached, not broad, ascending, variegated with gray and
black.
The stem is three to five inches long, hollow, slender, firm, straight,
often covered with frost-like bloom and often striate at the top, the
veil remaining only a short time. The spores are subellipsoid, 8-9x6u.
The gills do not deliquesce. It is widely distributed and is found in
almost any horse pasture.
Captain McIlvaine says in his book that he has eaten it in small
quantities, because larger could not be obtained, and with no other than
pleasant effect. I have found it about Chillicothe quite frequently but
have never eaten it. It is found from June to August.
_Panaeolus fimicolus. Fr._
THE DUNG PANAEOLUS.
Fimicolus is from fimus, dung; colo, to inhabit. The pileus somewhat
fleshy, convex-bell-shaped, obtuse, smooth, opaque; marked near the
margin with a narrow brown zone; the stem is fragile, elongated, equal,
pallid, covered with frost-like bloom above; the gills are firmly
attached to the stem, broad, variegated with gray and brown. _Fries._
The plant is very small and unimportant. It is found on dung, as its
name indicates, from June to September. The caps appear lighter in color
when dry than when wet.
_Panaeolus solidipes. Pk._
THE SOLID FOOT PANAEOLUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Plate XLI. Figure 278.--Panaeolus solidipes.]
Solidipes is from solidus, solid; pes, foot; and is so called because
the stem of the plant is solid. The pileus is two to three inches
across; firm; at first hemispherical, then subcampanulate or convex;
smooth; white; the cuticle at length breaking up into dingy-yellowish,
rather large, angular scales. The gills are broad, slightly attached,
whitish, becoming black. The stem is five to eight inches long and two
to four lines thick, firm, smooth, white, solid, slightly striate at the
top. The spores are very black with a bluish tint. _Peck._ 23d Rep. N.
Y. State Bot.
This is a large and beautiful plant and easily distinguished because of
its solid stem, growing on dung. Sometimes minute drops of moisture will
be seen on the upper part of the stem. The plant is said to be one of
the best of mushrooms to eat.
_Panaeolus papilionaceus. Fr._
THE BUTTERFLY PANAEOLUS.
[Illustration: Figure 279.--Panaeolus papilionaceus. Natural size.]
Papilionaceus is from _papilio_, a butterfly.
The pileus is about an inch broad, somewhat fleshy, at first
hemispherical, sometimes subumbonate, the cuticle breaking up into
scales when dry, as will be seen in the photograph, pale-gray with a
tinge of reddish-yellow especially on the disk, sometimes smooth.
The gills are broadly attached to the stem, quite wide, at length plane,
blackish or with varying tints of black.
The stem is three to four inches long, slender, firm, equal, hollow,
powdered above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow, slightly
striate at the top, as will be seen in the photograph with a glass,
generally stained with the spores.
The specimens in Figure 279 were found in a garden that had been
strongly manured. It is usually found on dung and on grassy lawns during
May and June. Captain McIlvaine in his book speaks of this mushroom
producing hilarity or a mild form of intoxication. I should advise
against its use.
_Anellaria. Karst._
Anellaria is from _anellus_, a little ring. This genus is so called
because of the presence of a ring on the stem.
The pileus is somewhat fleshy, smooth, and even. The gills are adnexed,
dark slate-colored, variegated with black spores. The stem is central,
smooth, firm, shining, ring persistent or forming a zone around the
stem.
_Anellaria separata. Karst._
Separata means separate or distinct.
The pileus is somewhat fleshy, bell-shaped, obtuse, even, viscid, at
first ochraceous, then dingy-white, shining, smooth, wrinkled when old.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, ventricose, thin,
crowded, clouded, cinereous, margin nearly white, slightly deliquescent.
The stem is long, straight, shining, white, thickened downward, ring
distant, top somewhat striate, bulbous at the base. The spores are
broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, 10x7u.
It is found on dung from May to October. It is not poisonous.
_Bolbitius. Fr._
Bolbitius is from a Greek word meaning cow-dung, referring to its place
of growth.
The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, becoming moist; gills moist but not
deliquescing, finally losing their color and becoming powdery; stem
hollow and confluent with the hymenophore. As the generic name implies
the plant usually grows on dung, but sometimes it is found growing on
leaves and where the ground had been manured the year before. The spores
are of a rusty-red color.
_Bolbitius fragilis. (L.) Fr._
Fragilis means fragile.
The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, then whitish, viscid, margin
striate, disk somewhat umbonate.
The gills are attenuated, adnexed, nearly free, ventricose, yellowish,
then pale cinnamon.
The stem is two to three inches long, naked, smooth, yellow. The spores
are rust-colored, 7x3.5, Massee. 14-15x8-9u. Saccardo.
This species is much more delicate and fragile than B. Boltoni. I find
it often in dairy pastures. It is well flavored and cooks readily. Found
from June to October.
_Bolbitius Boltoni. Fr._
BOLTON'S BOLBITIUS. EDIBLE.
The pileus is somewhat fleshy, viscid, at first smooth, then the margin
sulcate, disk darker and slightly depressed.
The gills are nearly adnate, yellowish, then livid-brown.
The stem is attenuated, yellowish, ring fugacious. This is rather common
in dairy pastures and is found from May to September.
_Psathyrella. Fr._
Psathyrella is from a Greek word meaning fragile. The members of this
genus are mebranaceous, striated, margin straight, at first pressed to
the stem, not extending beyond the gills. Gills adnate or free,
sooty-black, not variegated. The stem is confluent with, but different
in character from, the spore-bearing surface. Veil inconspicuous and
generally absent.
_Psathyrella disseminata. Pers._
THE CLUSTERED PSATHYRELLA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 280.--Psathyrella disseminata. Natural size.]
Disseminata is from _dissemino_, to scatter. Pileus is about a half inch
across, membranaceous, ovate, bell-shaped, at first scurvy, then naked;
coarsely striated, margin entire; yellowish then gray. Gills adnate,
narrow, whitish, then gray, finally blackish. Stem one to one and a half
inches long, rather curved, mealy then smooth, fragile, hollow.
_Massee._
This is a very small plant, growing on grassy lawns, and very common on
old trunks, and about decaying stumps.
A cluster about two yards square shows itself at intervals all summer on
the Chillicothe High School lawn. The grass shows itself to be greener
and thriftier there on account of fertilization by the mushroom. The
entire plant is very fragile and soon melts away. I have eaten the caps
raw many times and they have a rich flavor. They are found from May till
frost.
_Psathyrella hirta. Pk._
[Illustration: Figure 281.--Psathyrella hirta.]
Hirta means hairy, rough or shaggy.
Pileus thin, hemispherical or convex, adorned when young with erect or
spreading tufts of white, easily determined and quickly evanescent
hairs; hygrophanous, brown or reddish-brown and slightly striatulate
when moist, pale grayish-brown or dingy-whitish when dry, flesh
subconcolorous; lamellae broad, moderately close, adnate and often
furnished with a decurrent tooth, at first pallid, becoming
blackish-brown or black; stem flexuose, squamose, hollow, shining,
white; spores elliptical, black, .0005 to .00055 inch long, .00025 to
.0003 broad.
Subcaespitose; pileus 4 to 6 lines broad; stem 1 to 2 inches long to
1 1-5 lines thick. The specimens in Figure 281 were found in the
greenhouse at the State University. When quite young tufts of white hair
were very conspicuous. They are scarcely observed in mature specimens.
The plants were photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
_Gomphidius. Fr._
Gomphidius is from a Greek word meaning a wooden bolt or peg.
The hymenophore is decurrent on the stem. The gills are decurrent,
distant, soft, somewhat mucilaginous; edge acute, pruinate with the
blackish fusiform spores; veil viscoso-floccose, forming an imperfect
ring around the stem.
A small, but distinct, genus, with great difference among species;
intermediate by its habits between Cortinarius and Hygrophorus.
_Gomphidius viscidus. Fr._
VISCID GOMPHIDIUS.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, viscid, convex, then depressed
round the disk, obtusely umbonate, margin acute, reddish-brown to
yellowish-brown in the center, the margin liver-color, flesh
yellowish-brown.
The gills are decurrent, distant, somewhat branched, firm, elastic,
rather thick, purple-brown with an olive tinge.
The stem is two to three inches high, subequal or slightly ventricose;
pale yellowish-brown, fibrillose, firm, solid, slimy from the remains of
the veil, which form an obsolete filamentose ring.
The spores are elongato-fusiform, 18-20x6u.
Its favorite habitat is under pine and fir trees. Its taste is sweet and
it has the mushroom smell. It is edible, but not first-class.
Found in September and October.