THE s.h.a.gGY MANE COPRINUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by Prof Shaftner._

Figure 269.--Coprinus comatus.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 270.--Coprinus comatus. One-half natural size.]

Comatus is from coma, having long hair, s.h.a.ggy. 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 s.h.a.ggy.

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 cl.u.s.ters. 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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, 126., 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate x.x.xVIII. Figure 272.--Coprinus atramentarius.]

_Coprinus micaceus. Fr._

THE GLISTENING COPRINUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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, 105.

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._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 gra.s.s 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 s.h.a.gGY DUNG COPRINUS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Plate x.x.xIX. 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 cla.s.sed under this species. It is said to be of excellent flavor. I have never eaten it.