On the type of Coprinus undulatus
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Original description
Coprinus undulatus sp. nov. - Fig. 2
van de Bogart, F. 1979. The Genus Coprinus in Western North America, Part 2, Section Lanatuli: 246.

Pileus primo elongato-glandiformis demum anguste conicus, postea campanulatus, postremo laciniatus et aliquantum revolutus, primo 1.0-3.1 cm longus, post expansionem 1.0-3.4 cm latus, primo velo universali albo vel alutaceo obtectus, pagina pilei subter velo pallide brunnea et ad apicem hygrophane brunnea, in maturatione ex brunnea hygrophane atrogrisea et ad apicem atrogriseibrunnea, primo leviter striata demum leviter plicato-striata, striae ut videtur nullo modo in tramam lamellarum penetrantes. Velum universale tenue, intertextum, ad pileum adhaerens, in maturatione pro parte maxima evanescens. Caro tenuis, membranacea, ad apicem usque ad 1.0 mm crassa. Stipes cavus, gracilis 2.0-6.0 cm longus, 1.5-6.0 mm crassus, albus, opacus, juventute parte supera luminis telam hypharum laxarum capienti, pagina pro parte maxima laevis et glabra, sericea, juventute ad basem fragmentis veli universali instructus; basis aliquantum carnosa, sed post formationem sporarum fragilescens. Lamellae anguste lanceolate, lamellulis paucissimis, 0.9-3.0 cm longae, 2.0-5.0 mm crassae, liberae sed stipiti approximatae, confertae, primo albae dein pallide aeneae, postea aeneae vel cinereae et postremo atrae, autolysis completa.
Sporae globosae 7.9-11.3 µm diam., poro germinantionis apicali 2.2-2.5 µm lato; in cumulo atrae, per microscopium atropurpureibrunneae, contextis subtiliter granulatis, pariete levi. Basidia dimorphica, tetraspora, basidia breviter clavata 20.2-27.0 µm longa, 9.0-10.7 µm crassa, basidia longe clavata 31.5-37.0 µm longa, 10.3-11.3 µm crassa. Cheilocystidia variabilia, globosa, 11.2-36.0 µm lata, ovata vel ellipsoidea 22.5-92.4 µm longa, 17.0-29.3 µm crassa, hyalina, laevia, tenuitunicata. Pleurocystidia longioblonga vel longiellipsoidea, 112.0-168.0 µm longa, 27.0-58.3 µm crassa, hyalina, laevia, tenuitunicata, apicibus rotundatis, pedicellis usque ad 6.0 µm longis. Pagina pilei ex hyphis tenuitunicatis radiantibus constans. Velum universale filamentis cylindraceis ad septa nec inflatis nec constrictis quamquam diametro amplo, 23.6-110.0 µm longis, 5.1-10.0 um crassis, tenuitunicatis, cytoplasma abundanti ubi vivis hyalinis, cellulis pro parte maxima curvatis; cellulae veli formationi catenarum hyphoidearum propensae, quamquam cellulis multis libris, et persaepe cellulis evacuatis collapsis. Cellulae aliquot semel ramificantes, nonnullae maculas leviter incrassatas in pariete praebentes. Velum proparte maxima in pagina pilei et in quantitatibus parvis ad basem stipitis speciminum juvenium. Catenum elementorum veli plus minus radiatim dispositae autem sinuosae propter curvaturam parietum cellularum.
Fibulae ad basem stipitis adsunt; sporocarpium odore et sapore nullo.

Holotypus FVDB 2182, in solo vel in materia vegetabili unde crescit Agaricus brunnescens Peck (= A. bisporus), comitato Thurston pagi Washingtonis, 20 Novembreis, 1973, in herbario Universitatis Washingtonis (WTU) conservatus.

Pileus at first long-glandiform or truncate-ellipsoidal, then narrowly conic then narrowly conic, then narrowly campanulate, and finally becoming laciniate and somewhat revolute. Prior to expansion 1.0-3.1 cm in length and after expansion 1.0-3.4 cm in breadth, covered at first by white to pale tan universal veil, the surface beneath pale brown to hygrophanous brown at the apex, at maturity becoming dark hygrophanous grey with a hint of brown and dark brownish grey at the apex, faintly striate at first, eventually becoming slightly plicate-striate. The plicate striations do not seem to involve the trama of any of the lamellae. Universal veil thin, interwoven, adherent, by maturity mostly disappearing. Flesh thin and membranous but up to 1.0 mm thick at the apex. Stipe hollow, slender, tapered from base to apex, 2.0-6.0 cm x 1.5-6.0 mm. White and opaque. When young, loose hyphae often present in upper half of lumen. Most of surface smooth and glabrous silky in appearance. In button stages, some small patches of universal veil at the base. Base somewhat fleshy, fragile by the end of spore production. Lamellae narrowly lanceolate, mostly full length, only a few lamellulae present, 0.9-3.0 cm x 2.0-5.0 mm, free, extremely crowded and remaining so until lysis. White, then pale bronze, then bronze, then grey, and finally sooty black. Autodigestion complete, with the entire pileus lysed. Odor and taste none.
Spores globose, 7.9-11.3 µm in diameter, round in any section, lacking a perisporium, apiculus large, 1.2 x 1.2 µm, germ pore apical, 2.2-2.5 µm in diameter. Color en masse sooty black, microscopically dark purple-brown in 3%o KOH. Contents seem finely granular. Wall smooth. Basidia dimorphic, short clavate and 20.2-27.0 x 9.0-10.7 µm, long clavate and 31.5-37.0 x 10.3-11.3 µm all four-spored. Cystidia: Cheilocystidia variable in shape, sphaerocysts 11.2-36.0 µm in diameter, ovate to ellipsoidal, 22.5-92.4 x 17.0-29.3 µm, hyaline, smooth, thin walled, forming a broad band on the lamellar margin. Pleurocystidia long-oblong to long-ellipsoidal 112.0-168.0 x 27.0-58.3 µm, apices rounded, pedicels usually present, about 6 µm long, hyaline, thin walled, smooth. No other cystidia present. Pileal surface of thin-walled, radially oriented hyphae that revive poorly. Universal veil of cylindrical filaments, not swollen or constricted at the septa although of large diameter, 23.6-110.0 x 5.1-10.0 µm, thin walled, with abundant cytoplasm in fresh material, hyaline, most cells curved. Cells tending to form hyphalike chains although many loose cells are present, and very often there are collapsed empty cells. A few cells branch once, and some show slightly thickened spots on the cell wall. Veil present mostly on pileal surface and in small amounts at the base of the stipe of young specimens. The chains of veil elements are more or less radially oriented but sinuous due to the curvature in the wall of most cells. Clamp connections present only (?) on stipe.
Habitat.- Terrestrial or subcoprophilous on prepared compost intended for commercial production of Agaricus brunnescens in closed controlled-environment buildings. In large clusters.

Observations: The universal veil elements and spores of this species are distinctive, and the habitat seems to be unique. Personal communications with the staff mycologist of the Ostrom Mushroom Company of Lacey, Washington, indicate that this species is considered a pest, detrimental to obtaining maximum yields of Agaricus brunnescens Peck, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27: 16, 1900 (= A. bisporus). The spores or mycelium of Coprinus undulatus appear to be capable of surviving the company's present sterilization techniques for the compost.

Material Examined.- Washington: Holotype, FVDB 2182*, 20 November, 1973: FVDB 3902.
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