Coprinus
| Coprinus | |
|---|---|
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| Coprinus comatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Coprinus
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| Type species | |
| Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Gray | |
The genus Coprinus is a small genus of mushrooms consisting of Coprinus comatus (the shaggy mane) and several of its close relatives. Until 2001, Coprinus was a large genus consisting of all agaric species in which the lamellae autodigested to release their spores. (The black ink-like liquid this would create gave these species their common name "inky cap".) Molecular phylogenetic investigation found that Coprinus comatus was only a distant relative of the other members of Coprinus, and was closer to genera in the Agaricaceae. Since Coprinus comatus is the type species of Coprinus, only that species and its close relatives C. sterquilinus and C. spadiceisporus retained the name of the genus[1].
The majority of species of Coprinus were therefore reclassified into the genera Coprinellus, Coprinopsis, and Parasola. Coprinus and these segregate genera are now referred to collectively as coprinoid fungi.
Species list
- C. comatus (Shaggy inkcap)
- C. spadiceisporus
- C. sterquilinus
Selected former species
- Coprinus atramentarius - now Coprinopsis atramentaria
References
- ^ Redhead SA, Vilgalys R, Moncalvo J-M,Johnson J & Hopple, JS Jr. Coprinus Pers. and the disposition of Coprinus species sensu lato. Taxon 50(1): 203-241. 2001
- Pierre Montarnal : Le petit guide : Champignons (Genève, 1964; Paris-Hachette, 1969).
- Régis Courtecuisse, Bernard Duhem : Guide des champignons de France et d'Europe (Delachaux & Niestlé, 1994-2000). ISBN 2-603-00953-2
- Roger Phillips : Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe (Pan Books Ltd. 1981 / Book Club Associates 1981) - for the English names.
External links
- "The Genus Coprinus: The Inky Caps" by Michael Kuo, MushroomExpert.com, February, 2005.
- All about Inkcaps: Coprinus site of Kees Uljé – taxonomy and keys to coprinoid fungi.
- Fungus of the Month for May 2004: Coprinus comatus, the shaggy mane by Tom Volk, TomVolkFungi.net.
- "Coprinus comatus: The Shaggy Mane" by Michael Kuo, MushroomExpert.com, September, 2001.
- "California Fungi: Coprinus comatus", MykoWeb.com.
- "Wild About Mushrooms: Shaggy Mane Mushroom" by Louise Freedman, MykoWeb.com.
