C. domes´ticus (Pers.) Fr.—domus, a house. Pileus 2 in. broad, fuliginous, disk date-brown, thin, ovate then bell-shaped, covered with small branny scales, then opening into furrows and flattened, undulately sulcate, disk obtuse, even. Stem 2–3 in. long, 2–3 lines thick, fistulose, slightly firm, attenuated upward, adpressedly silky, becoming even, white. Gills adnexed, at first crowded, distant when the pileus is split, linear, white then reddish, at length brownish-blackish.
A larger and more remarkable species than all the neighboring ones. Fries.
Spores 14–16×7–8µ Massee.
On much decayed wood, damp carpets, in cellars, etc. Often in clusters.
Mt. Gretna, Pa., Prof. M.W. Easton, July, 1898; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, McIlvaine.
C. domesticus is the largest of its section and is sometimes of remarkable growth. I have seen it start from under a board in a cellar and prolong its stems for over a foot to get its caps to air and light. Under such conditions the stems are twisted in a confused mass.
It is very tender with a decided mushroom flavor. Cook at once.
Coprinus silvaticus.
Enlarged one-fourth.
(After Peck.)