Observations on the type of Coprinus lilatinctus

On the type of Coprinus lilatinctus
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Original description

Coprinus lilatinctus Bender & Uljé, spec. nov.
Bender & Uljé in Uljé & Bender, Persoonia 16(3): 373. 1997.

Pileus junior usque ad 30 mm altus, 16 mm latus, cylindricus, ellipsoideus vel conicus, adultus ad 50 mm latus, junior distincte lilacino-tinctus, demum lilaceo-griseo-brunneus vel pallide griseo-brunneus vel griseus, glaber. Lamellae, L = 36-45, l = 1-3(-5), liberae, primo albae demum griseae vel atrae acie pallidior. Stipes usque ad 100 x 2-3 mm, versus basim incrassatus vel bulbosus, albus vel griseo-albus.
Sporae 9.6-13.3 x 9.0-11.2 x 6.1-8.3 µm, 5-angulatae, cordiformes, poro germinativo excentrico praeditae. Basidia 20-45 x 9-12 µm, tetrasporigera. Cheilocy-stidia 25-70 x 12-28 µm, vesiculosa, ellipsoidea, obovoidea vel subcy-lindracea, interdum utri-formia. Pleuro-cystidia 30-95 x 22-38 µm, vesiculosa, subcylindracea, ellipsoidea vel subutri-formia. Fibulae presentes. Pilei-pellis hymeniformis e elementis clavatis vel vesiculosis. Elementae microscopicae, praesertim in pilei-pelle vel hymenio cum granulae griseo-alutaceae. Ad terram argillaceam vel ad fragmentam lignam, gregarius. Typus: "C.B. Uljé 987, Alphen a/d Rijn, prope Zegerplas, 27-VIII-1988 (L)".

Pileus up to 30 mm high and 16 mm wide when still closed, cylindrical ellipsoid or conical, expanded pileus convex, up to 50 mm wide, lilac when young and fresh, then lilaceous grey-brown, the lilac tinge remaining longest at centre, later pale greyish brown or in most cases greyish, especially at centre; smooth. Lamellae L = 36-45, l = 1-3(-5), free, white at first then grey to black with pale edge. Stipe up to 100 x 2-3 mm, slightly widened downwards, white or greyish white, at base somewhat swol-len (-5 mm).
Spores [160,8,6] 9.6-13.3 x 9.0-11.2 x 6.1-8.3 µm, Q = 1.05-1.30, average Q = 1.12-1.22; average L = 10.7-12.3, average B = 9.5-10.1 µm, 5-angular and heart-shaped with slightly elongate apex in frontal view, ellipsoid in side view, dark red-brown under the microscope, with eccentric germ pore. Basidia 20-45 x 9-12 µm, 4-spored, surrounded by (4-)5-8(-9) pseudoparap-hyses. Pleuro-cystidia 30-95 x 22-38 µm, vesiculo-se, subcylindric, ellipsoid or subutri-form. Cheilocy-stidia 25-70 x 12-28 µm, vesiculose, ellipsoid, obovoid or subcy-lindric, sometimes a few utri-form. Clamp-connections present. Pilei-pellis hymeniform, made up of clavate or balloon-shaped cells. Part of all microscopical elements, especially pilei-pellis, cheilocys-tidia and basidia with grey yellowish granules, probably consisting of oil drops.
Habitat & distribution: In small groups, more or less fasciculate; on paths of clayey soil covered with woodchips. Rare, only known from Germany and the Netherlands; July-Sept.

Collections examined: GERMANY: Mönchengladbach, Volksgarten, 28 Aug. 1982, H. Bender, on debris of deciduous wood; NETHERLANDS: prov. Flevoland, Muiderzand, 19 July 1988, C.B. Uljé 932; prov. Zuid-Holland: Leiden, Leiden-Noord, near allotment gardens, 23 Aug. 1987, C.B. Uljé 858; idem, 6 July 1988, C.B. Uljé 944; Alphen a/d Rijn, near Zegerplas, 27 Aug. 1988, C.B. Uljé 987 (holotype, L); Reeuwijk, Reeuwijkse Hout, 10 Sept. 1995, C.B. Uljé 1272.

Coprinus lilatinctus is a species rather close to C. leiocephalus P.D. Orton and C. plicatilis (Curt.: Fr.) Fr. It differs from both in shape, size and colour of the basidio-carps, size of the spores, and the grey yellowish granules in the microscopical elements, though in dried material the granules are not always clear. The shape of the spores is similar to that of C. leiocephalus, but they are distinctly larger (average length of spores in C. leiocephalus: 9.0-10.7; in C. lilatinctus: 11.3-11.5). In C. plicatilis the spores are more elongate and on average, just as in C. leiocephalus, less than 9.5(9.8) µm wide (in C. lilatinctus 9.5-10.1). Coprinus nudiceps P.D. Orton agrees in spore size, but that species is smaller, lacks lilaceous tints and never grows on wood-chips. However, the most important difference is the shape of the spores which is rounded triangular in C. nudiceps and without the lemon-shaped apex that is characteristic in C. lilatinctus, C. leiocephalus and C. plicatilis.
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