Plant cespitose, 2–3 in. high. Pileus 1–2 in. broad. Stem 1 line thick.
Ground in open fields. Ticonderoga. August.
The prominent characters of this species are the cracked pileus, squamose disk, free lamellæ and large spores. In its early state it resembles some species of Lepiota. It seems to be intermediate between the sections Atramentarii and Micacei. Peck, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Found in quantity at Mt. Gretna, Pa. August to September, 1898, growing among old stable bedding on parade ground.
C. macrosporus is an excellent species, higher in flavor than any other Coprinus.
*** Pica´cei. Universal downy veil, etc.
C. pica´ceus (Bull.) Fr. Pileus 2–2½ in. across, membranaceous, ovato-bell-shaped, striate up to the disk, smoky-black, variegated with large, irregular, superficial white patches. Gills free, ½ in. or more broad, ventricose, grayish-black. Stem 5–6 in. long, base bulbous, abrupt, otherwise equal, ¼-⅔ in. thick, white, hollow, fragile, smooth. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 14×8µ; cystidia large, numerous. Massee.
Decaying trunks or branches of trees in woods. Lyndonville. June. Fairman.
The form here referred to this species differs somewhat from the description of the type in being smaller, in having no bulb to the stem and in having smaller spores. It is probably the “smaller variety growing on rotten wood” noticed by Stevenson in his British Fungi. I have seen the true form of the species from Kansas. The New York plant seems to me to be worthy of distinctive designation, at least as a variety, and I call it
Var. ebulbo´sus. Plant smaller. Stem destitute of a bulb. Spores 8–10×5µ. Peck, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.