On the type of Coprinus trisporus
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Original description

Coprinus trisporus Kemp & Watling, sp. nov. Fig. I G-K.
Notes on some British Agarics. R. Watling in N.R.B.G. 32: 128. 1972.

A basidiis trisporigeribus, odore forte et pileo crasse farinoso-squamuloso facile distinguitur. Pileus primo glandiformis, elongato-ellipsoideus vel cylindrico-ovoideus, 5-17.5 mm altus, 7-8 mm latus, dein plano-convexus vel expansus umbonatus, 12-18 mm, albus vel albido-pallidus, ad discum vulgo pallide argillaceo-bubalinus, primo totus albo-floccosus, vulgo ad discum squamis farinosis crassioribus interdum sordidotinctis obtectus, interdum postremo radialiter plicato-sulcatus. Stipes 16-23 x 2-3-5 mm, subaequalis vel sursum attenuatus et ad basim 3.5-4.5 mm latus, albus vel pallidus, totus albo-pruinosus, cavus, ad basim obscuriore farinosus. Lamellae fere liberae, ex albido nigrae, confertae, ad aciem primo albo-flocculosae. Caro tenuis, albida. Odor fortis, nauseosus. Sporae ellipsoideo-amygdaliformes, a perisporis tenuiter tuni-catae, 9-10(-10.5) x (5.5-)6-6.5 µm, cum perisporio tenuitunicatae, 6-7 µm latus. Basidia trisporigera. Cystidia aciei lamellarum sphaero-pedunculata, pyriformia vel irregulariter vesiculosa, 30-62 x 15-40 µm. Cystidia faciei lamellarum cylindrico-vesiculosa, 70-100 x 28-48 µm. Cellulae veil pilei globosae, 20-75 µm, vel ellipsoideae, verrucoso-punctatae, 20-75 x 10-40 µm, etiam paucis, ± cylindricis, 4-8 µm latis mixtis. Scotland, Edinburgh: Blackford Glen, ad fimum equinum vetustum, solitarius vel 2-3-caespitosus, 14 xii 1968, Watling 8894 (holo. E).

Coprinus trisporus (type): G, veil constituents; H, cheilocystidia; I, habit sketch; J-J2, basidiospores, in water (J) and treated with concentrated sulphuric acid (J2; K, dark swollen cells in culture (paratype-Kemp). Magnification as indicated.

Pileus at first glandiform but soon elongate-ellipsoid to cylindric-ovoid, 5-l7.5 mm high, 7-8 mm wide, then expanded up to 18 mm broad, sometimes umbonate, white or whitish with the disc slightly grey or dirty ochraceous, entirely floccose at first, distinctly floccose-scaly at the cente becoming smoother with age except at disc and plicate-striate towards the margin. Stem 16-23 x 2-3 mm (3.5-4.5 mm at base), subequal or attenuated upwards, white or pallid, finely pruinose becoming smooth. Gills free, crowded, whitish then black, edge at first white floccuiose. Flesh thin, whitish. Smell strong rather nauseous.
Spores broadly ellipsoid in face-view, slightly amygdaliform in side-view with thin perispore, 9-10(-10.5) x (5.5-)6-6.5 µm (with perispore 6-7 µm broad), dark brown in ammonia and water with conspicuous germ-pore and thin, hyaline perispore prominent only after treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid. Cheilocystidia numerous, spheropedunculate, pyriform or vesiculose, hyaline 30-60 x 15-40 µm. Pleurocystidia similar to those on gill-edge or more cylindric-vesiculose, 70-100 x 28-48 µm, Cells of veil globose, 20-75 µm, to ellipsoid, 20-75 x 10-40 µm, hyaline or with age faintly yellowish, minutely punctate to verruculose from the presence of small structural diverticulae, intermixed with a few cylindric hyphae 4-8 µm broad. Clamp-connections present in culture but irregular. Oidia in dry heads on monocaryons when grown in culture. Scotland. Edinburgh: Blackford Glen, on horse dung, legit R. F. 0, Kemp, 14 xii 1968, catling 8894 (holo. E).
Further material examined: Cumberland, Wigton, on horse dung from stable, l6 ix 1970, legit R. F. 0. Kemp', Wales, Swansea, on dung, 24 xii 1970, R. F. 0. Kemp c 65/-; England, Warwickshire, Crackley Wood, on dung, 31 iii 1970, legit M. Rotheroe, MRC 1470.

C. trisporus is heterothallic and when in culture produces characteristic dark cells submerged in the agar which radiate out from a central point. These dark cells are thickened and resemble in a simplified way the sclerotia of other members of the C. narcoticus group in which the darkened cells are aggregated together to form a compact tissue.
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