On the type of Coprinus argenteus
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Original description
Coprinus argenteus P.D. Orton, in Notes R. bot. Gdn Edinb. 32: 139. 1972 (Notes on British agarics IV). Holotype: England: Surrey, Mickleham, Juniper Hill, in chalk grassland, 22 June 1956, Carol Kemball, Orton 955 (K).
C. saichiae proxime accedit, sed a sporis majoribus et minus complanatis differt. Basidia 4-sporigera esse creditur.
Pileus longe conico-cylindricus usque ad 10/4 mm, dein expansus ± acute umbonatus usque ad 15 mm, albidus dein griseus vel leviter griseoviolaceus interdum ad discum pallide argillaceo-luteolus, postremo plerumque argenteo-griseus et rugoso-striatus, primo a velo albo adpresse squamulosus, ad marginem postremo fissuratus. Lamellae fere liberae, ex albo nigricantes, subconfertae, ad aciem primo alboflocculosae. Stipes usque ad 20/2 mm, sursum attenuatus, ad basim in orbem bulbillosum dilatatus, candidus dein hyalinus, primo minute pruinoso-striatus. Odor nullus. Sporae lentiformes ellipsoideo-ovoideae vel globoso-triangulares, poro germinativo lato, 5-7/4-5/5-5½ µm (Fig. 1,c), in cumulo fere nigrae, sub microscupio pallide brunneae. Cystidia non vidi. Cellulae veli pilei ± cylindricae, 5-14(20) µm latae.
Cap elongate conico-cylindric up to 10/4 mm, then expanded -± acutely umbonate up to 15 mm broad, whitish then greyish or with slight violaceous or slate tinge, centre sometimes pale clay-buff, finally almost entirely silvery-grey and wrinkled-striate, at first with ± adpressed patches of white veil, margin becoming split or torn radially. Gills ± free, lanceolate, white then blackish, fairly crowded, edge white flocculose at first. Stem up to 20/2 mm, attenuated upwards with pronounced bulbous disc-like base, pure white then hyaline, minutely white pruinose-striate when fresh. Smell none. Spore-print blackish.
Spores lentiform, ellipsoid-ovoid or globose-triangular, with broad germ-pore, 5-7/4-5/5-5½ µm (Fig. i,c), rather pale brownish sub micr. Cystidia not noted. Cells of veil on cap ± cylindric, 5-14(20) µm broad.
Surrey. Mickleham, Juniper Hill, in chalk grassland, (? on grass stems), 22 VI 1956, leg. Carol Kemball, Orton 955 (holo. K.).
Closely related to C. saichiae, but with smaller more conspicuously lentiform spores. The basidia are believed to be 4-spored (not noted). It would seem to belong to section Herbicolae.
Observations:
Spores [20,1,1] 4.5--6.7 x 4.5--6.1 x 3.8--4.7 µm, rather dark red-brown, kernel of maize-shaped, distinctly lentiform; Q= 0.95--1.25, av. Q= 1.10, av. Q (side)= 1.2; av. L= 5.6--5.9, av. B= 5.2--5.4, av. W= 4.1--4.3 µm. Germ pore central, c. 1 µm in diameter. Veil thin-walled, 2--7 µm wide, with pale yellowish pigment. Clamp-connections present.
Notes: the material is in a very poor state, consisting of a fragment of the cap without lamellae. Therefore few microscopical details could be studied.
In the original description Orton described the veil as being 5--14(--20) µm wide, contrary to the measurements on the type. Orton did not mention other microscopical details except for the spores.
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