''Coprinus'' is a small

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is t ...

-forming

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

consisting of '' Coprinus comatus''the shaggy ink cap (

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

) or shaggy mane (

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

)and several of its close relatives. Until 2001, ''Coprinus'' was a large genus consisting of all

agaric An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushroom ...

species in which the

lamella Lamella (plural lamellae) means a small plate or flake in Latin, and in English may refer to: Biology * Lamella (mycology), a papery rib beneath a mushroom cap * Lamella (botany) * Lamella (surface anatomy), a plate-like structure in an animal ...

e autodigested to release their

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

s. The black ink-like liquid this creates gave these species their

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

"ink cap" (

) or "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 The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and include the genus ''Agaricus'', as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. Taxonomy The family Agaricaceae was publishe ...

. Since ''Coprinus comatus'' is the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

of ''Coprinus'', only that species and its close relatives ''C. sterquilinus'' and ''C. spadiceisporus'' retained the name of the genus. The majority of species of ''Coprinus'' were therefore reclassified into three genera placed in

Psathyrellaceae The Psathyrellaceae are a family of dark-spored agarics that generally have rather soft, fragile fruiting bodies, and are characterized by black, dark brown, rarely reddish, or even pastel-colored spore prints. About 50% of species produce fruit ...

: ''

Coprinellus ''Coprinellus'' is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi in the family Psathyrellaceae. The genus was circumscribed by the Finnish mycologist Petter Adolf Karsten in 1879. Most ''Coprinellus'' species were transferred from the once large genus ''Copr ...

'', ''

Coprinopsis ''Coprinopsis'' is a genus of mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae. ''Coprinopsis'' was split out of the genus ''Coprinus'' based on molecular data. The species ''Coprinopsis cinerea'' (='' Coprinus cinereus'') is a model organism for mushro ...

'', and '' Parasola''. ''Coprinus'' and these segregate genera are now referred to collectively as ''coprinoid fungi''. ''Coprinus'' means "living on dung".

Species

Species of the genus include, but are not limited to: *''

Coprinus calyptratus ''Coprinus calyptratus'' is a species of fungus in the family Agaricaceae. It is commonly known as the Star-capped Coprinus. Taxonomy ''Coprinus calyptratus'' was classified by the American mycologist Charles Horton Peck in 1895. Descriptio ...

'' *'' Coprinus comatus'' (shaggy ink cap, shaggy cap, lawyer's wig) *''

Coprinus spadiceisporus ''Coprinus'' is a small genus of mushroom-forming fungi consisting of ''Coprinus comatus''the shaggy ink cap (British English, British) or shaggy mane (American English, American)and several of its close relatives. Until 2001, ''Coprinus'' was a ...

'' *'' Coprinus sterquilinus''

Selected former species

*''Coprinus atramentarius'' - now ''

Coprinopsis atramentaria ''Coprinopsis atramentaria'', commonly known as the common ink cap or inky cap, is an edible (although poisonous when combined with alcohol) mushroom found in Europe and North America. Previously known as ''Coprinus atramentarius'', it is th ...

'' (Common inkcap) *''Coprinus micaceus'' - now '' Coprinellus micaceus'' (Mica cap) *''Coprinus plicatilis'' - now ''

Parasola plicatilis ''Parasola plicatilis'' is a small saprotrophic mushroom with a plicate cap (diameter up to 35 mm). It is a widely distributed species in Europe and North America. This ink cap species is a decomposer which can be found in grassy areas, al ...

References

*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). *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.

– taxonomy and keys to coprinoid fungi.

by Tom Volk, ''TomVolkFungi.net''. {{Authority control Agaricaceae Agaricales genera

Species

Selected former species

See also

References

External links