Chapter II: Part 2

56(55) Spores evenly ellipsoid-fusiform, 31-55 × 18-25µm, with
germ pore at each end, caudae covering germ pores, 35-60
× 7-11µm, but rupturing and swelling up to 130 × 50µm,
and becoming diffuse and irregular. Perithecial neck
covered with rigid hairs up to 190 × 2.5µm.
_Arnium hirtum_
- Spores slightly inequilateral, 35-43 × 17-23µm, caudae
50-75 × 5-8µm, not covering germ pores. Perithecial
neck with brown hairs up to 250µm long.
_Arnium cervinum_

57(55) Perithecia covered with a dense tomentum of septate
flexuous hairs. Spores mostly longer than 45µm. Only
occasionally fimicolous. 58
- Perithecia without a tomentum. Spores up to 45µm. 59

58(57) Spores (40)45-54 × 25-35µm, uniseriate. Tomentum pale
or grayish. _Arnium olerum_
- Spores 47-70 x 20-30µm, biseriate above. Tomentum
olivaceous brown. _Arnium tomentosum_

59(57) Spores somewhat inequilateral, rounded below, pointed
above, 31-40 × 18-24µm, caudae 50-120 × 6-10µm, with 1
apical germ pore not covered by cauda.
_Arnium caballinum_
- Spores equilateral, 36-44 × 20-23µm, caudae 50-80 ×
6-8µm, covering germ pores. _Arnium mendax_

60(51) Perithecia with scales at the neck, composed of inflated
and agglutinated cells (fig. 27, _S. conicum_).
(_Schizothecium_) 61
- Perithecia setose or hairy at the neck, but not with
inflated cells, or neck black but almost hairless.
(_Podospora_) 70

61(60) Asci 4-spored. 62
- Asci 8-spored. 63

62(61) Spores 11-14.5 × 6.5-9µm. _Schizothecium nanum_ (fig. 28)
- Spores 19-24 × 12-14.5µm. _Schizothecium tetrasporum_

63(61) Spores more than 30µm long. 64
- Spores less than 30µm long. 65

64(63) Perithecia crowned with a fascicle of long agglutinated
hairs at the neck, up to 335µm long. Spores 31-40 ×
15-25µm, biseriate. _Schizothecium aloides_
- Perithecia with shorter, less remarkable tufts. Spores
30-45 × 19-24µm, ± uniseriate. _Schizothecium glutinans_

65(63) Perithecial neck with rigid setae, as well as
agglutinated hairs (which may be greatly reduced).
Asci 140-210 × 19-25µm, broadest at the markedly
rounded apex. Spores 18-23 × 11-14µm.
_Schizothecium pilosum_
- Perithecial neck without rigid setae. Asci broadest
in the middle. 66

66(65) Spores mostly over 23µm long. 67
- Spores up to 23µm long. 69

67(66) Spores 22-25(27) × 11-13µm. Scales at neck distinct.
_Schizothecium hispidulum_
- Spores wider, 12-19µm 68

68(67) Perithecia 0.5-1mm high, scales at neck usually well
developed. Spores (23)26-30 × 12-17µm.
_Schizothecium conicum_ (fig. 27)
- Perithecia 1-2mm diam., subpyriform, neck velvety with
indistinct scales. Spores 24-28 × 15-19µm.
_Schizothecium squamulosum_

69(66) Spores 17-23 × 8.5-13.5µm, primary appendage slender
cylindrical, 6-8 × 2µm. Perithecia 0.25-0.7mm high,
sometimes with poorly developed scales.
_Schizothecium vesticola_ (fig. 28)
- Spores 11-14 × 6-8µm, primary appendage short, 2µm long,
almost triangular. Perithecia 0.3-0.45mm high, with
short agglutinated hairs. _Schizothecium cervinum_

70(60) Asci 4-spored. Spores 35-40 × 18-19µm. _Podospora pauciseta_
- Asci with more than 4 spores. 71

71(70) Asci 8-spored. 72
- Asci with more than 8 spores. 82

72(71) Spores more than 45µm long. 73
- Spores less than 45µm long. 74

73(72) Spores 48-60 × 27-31µm, caudae apparently striate.
Perithecia superficial, covered with rigid,
nonagglutinated hairs up to 120µm. _Podospora fimiseda_
- Spores 50-68 × 22-32µm, caudae apparently segmented,
with an intestine-like appearance. Perithecia immersed
to superficial, with a long neck, tomentose with long
flexuous hairs when young, more or less glabrous when
mature. _Podospora intestinacea_

74(72) Perithecia superficial, ovoid to globose, covered with
short (up to 100µm), sparse, radiating, hyaline tipped,
hairs. Spores 24-31 × 11-15µm, with simple caudae.
_Podospora appendiculata_ (figs 27, 28)
- Perithecia with base immersed in substrate, pyriform,
without such hairs. 75

75(74) Perithecial neck with short tubercular hairs, up to 20µm
long. Spores 32-42 × 17-22µm, with a long but withering
primary appendage. Caudae in two rings, one inserted near
the base of the primary appendage, the other at the spore
apex. The individual filaments may be free, but often
clump together to form an apparently broad appendage.
_Podospora decipiens_ (figs 27, 28)
- Perithecial hairs longer. Caudae single or 4 at each end. 76

76(75) Spores with 4 caudae at each end. 77
- Spores with a single cauda at each end. 78

77(76) Spores 40-45 × 22-25µm. _Podospora gwynne-vaughaniae_
- Spores 29-40 × 16-25µm. _Podospora communis_

78(76) Spores less than 30 × 15µm. 79
- Spores larger than 30 × 15µm. 80

79(78) Spores 21-28 × 11-14µm, primary appendage 12-14 × 4µm.
Perithecia 0.3-0.5mm diam., neck setose with rigid
cylindrical hairs. Asci 200-250 × 22-26µm, broadest
in the middle. _Podospora ellisiana_
- Spores 18-23 × 11-14µm, primary appendage 4-8 × 3µm.
Perithecia 0.2-0.3mm diam., neck setose with rigid
hairs. Asci 140-210 × 19-25µm, broadest at the markedly
rounded apex. _Schizothecium pilosum_

80(78) Perithecia ca O.9-1.4mm high × 0.6-0.7(0.85)mm diam.,
neck not hairy. Spores (29)36-45 × (17.5)22-27µm,
caudae ephemeral and difficult to see, even in Indian
ink. _Podospora pyriformis_
- Perithecial neck with tufts of rigid hairs. 81

81(80) Perithecia 0.38-0.53mm high × 0.21-0.38mm diam.,
± immersed, with hairs at the neck up to 335µm long,
grouped in rigid fascicles. Spores slightly flattened
on one side, 30-37 × 18-24µm, caudae invisible in water.
_Podospora excentrica_ (figs 27, 28)
- Perithecia ca 0.8-1.4mm high × 0.4-0.7mm diam.,
semi-immersed, hairy all over, flexuous below, rigid
and pointed at the neck up to 170µm. Spores 33-45 ×
22-27µm. _Podospora perplexens_

82(71) Asci 16-32-spored. Perithecial neck with short tubercular
hairs. Spores 25-36 × 15-24µm. Caudae in two rings, one
inserted at the base of the primary appendage, the other
at the spore apex; individual filaments may be separate
or clumped to appear as a broad single appendage
(cf. _P. decipiens_). _Podospora pleiospora_
- Asci with more than 32 spores. 83

83(82) Perithecia with tufts of rigid hairs at neck. Asci with
more than 64 spores. 84
- Perithecia without tufts of rigid hairs. Asci 64-spored. 87

84(83) Spores 14-17 × 9-11µm. Asci 256-spored. Perithecia ca
500µm diam., immersed, except for the neck, which has
tapered tufts of hairs up to 300µm. _Podospora curvicolla_
- Spores larger. Perithecia semi-immersed. 85

85(84) Spores (18)20-26 × 12-16µm, caudae of 2-several filaments
covered with granules. Asci 512-spored. Perithecia up to
1mm high × 0.95mm diam., neck with rigid but
non-agglutinated hairs up to 130µm long.
_Podospora granulostriata_
- Caudae simple, without granular appearance. Asci
128-spored. Perithecia not larger than 750µm high ×
500µm diam., with rigid, non-agglutinated hairs up
to 190µm long at neck. 86

86(85) Spores 17-19 × 10-12µm. _Podospora setosa_
- Spores 19-24 × 11-16µm. _Podospora tarvisina_
(See discussion in Lundqvist (1972) on these last three names)

87(83) Spores 24-34 × 14-19µm, caudae in two rings, one inserted
at the base of the primary appendage, the other at the
spore apex; individual filaments may be separate or
clumped to appear as a broad single appendage (cf.
_P. decipiens_/_P. pleiospora_). Perithecia ca 0.6-1.1mm
high × 0.4-0.5mm diam., covered with flexuous hairs or
rarely smooth. _Podospora myriaspora_
- Spores 15-20 × 10-15µm, caudae small, simple and
evanescent. Perithecia 0.4-0.5mm high, covered with
long flexuous hairs. _Podospora collapsa_

88(47) Spores with primary appendage. 89
- Spores without primary appendage. 93

89(88) Spores with primary appendage directed towards base of
ascus. 90
- Spores with primary appendage directed towards apex of
ascus. (_Anopodium_) 91

90(89) Spores 34-45 × 19-25µm, without caudae but surrounded
by a thin (ca 5µm) gelatinous sheath. Perithecia ca
0.5-0.7mm diam., ± smooth. _Podospora globosa_
- Spores 17-20 × 8-9.5µm, flattened on one side, convex
on the other. Perithecia 0.3-0.45µm diam., with distal
cells of agglutinated hairs fimbriate. _Podospora fimbriata_

91(89) Perithecia hairy. Spores 27-32 × 16-19µm, appendage
15-18 × 2.5-3µm. _Anopodium ampullaceum_
- Perithecia glabrous. 92

92(91) Spores 28-32 × 16-21µm, appendage 12-15 × 3-3.8µm.
_Anopodium epile_
- Spores 30-37 × 16-20µm, appendage 24-27 × 5µm.
_'Podospora' dagobertii_ (fig. 28)
(The combination in _Anopodium_ has not been made; see
Lundqvist, 1964, 1972)

93(88) Spores flattened, disc shaped, with a germ slit around
the edge. Perithecial neck with short (up to 120µm)
setae. (_Coniochaeta_, figs 30, 31) 94
- Spores ellipsoid. Perithecial neck without setae or with
very prominent (up to 950µm) tufts of agglutinated hairs. 99

94(93) Asci with numerous (64-128) spores. 95
- Asci 8-spored. 96

95(94) Spores 6-10 × 5-9 × 4-7µm. Perithecial setae up to 120µm
long. _Coniochaeta hansenii_ (fig. 30)
- Spores 13-16 × 9.5-13.5 × 5.5-8µm. Perithecial setae
up to 35µm long. _Coniochaeta_ sp.

96(94) Spores 7-9 × 6-8 × 5-6µm, slightly flattened.
_Coniochaeta leucoplaca_
- Spores larger. 97

97(96) Spores narrowly elliptical in face view (length more than
2 × width), ca 13-18 × 6-9 × 4-6µm.
_Coniochaeta saccardoi_
- Spores broadly elliptical to nearly circular in face
view (length less than 2 × width). 98

98(97) Spores (9)10-16(20) × 7.5-10(15) × (4)5-8µm. Neck setae
20-50µm long. _Coniochaeta ligniaria_ (figs 30, 31)
- Spores (16)17-23 × (10)13-19 × 7.5-10(15)µm. Neck setae
40-80µm long. _Coniochaeta scatigena_ (figs 30, 31)

99(93) Perithecial neck with prominent agglutinated tufts of
rigid setae up to 950µm long. Spores 43-54 × 20-29µm,
with apical germ pore. A gelatinous sheath which surrounds
the whole spore swells in water, and appears fringed at
the margin and radially striate. _Arnium macrothecium_
- Perithecial neck without setae. Gelatinous sheaths may be
clearly visible around spores, but are not complex in
structure. 100

100(99) Spores with germ slit along the side. Ascus with a large
and complex plug at the tip staining blue or red in KI
(other genera have asci with blue staining ascus tips,
but the feature is very pronounced in this genus and is
unlikely to be mistaken). Perithecia form singly or
severally in a stroma which is usually of limited extent,
often without a definite margin. [N.B. if orange and
with a stroma see _Selinia_, 119].
(_Hypocopra_, fig. 32) 101
- Spores without germ slits, but often asymmetrical, and
with a small papilla at the basal end. Asci without
complex apical plug. (_Sordaria_, fig. 33) 107

101(100) Spores mostly less than 25µm long. 102
- Spores more than 25µm long. 104

102(101) Spores 9-14 × 6-7µm. _Hypocopra parvula_
- Spores larger. 103

103(102) Stroma with a brown hyphal mat between perithecial necks.
Spores 19-27 × 10-14µm. _Hypocopra equorum_ (fig. 32)
- Stroma with white hyphae between black perithecial
necks, becoming smooth. Spores 23-25 × 12-14µm.
_Hypocopra brefeldii_

104(101) Ascospores up to 15µm wide. 105
- Ascospores 15µm or wider. 106

105(104) Ascospores 25-31 × 10-15µm, distinctly flattened on one
side. Ascus plug blue in KI, but becoming reddish.
_Hypocopra planispora_
- Ascospores 26-32 × 13-14µm, ellipsoid and narrowed
towards their ends. _Hypocopra stephanophora_

106(104) Ascospores 27-43 × 16-20µm. _Hypocopra merdaria_
- Ascospores 38-50 × 19-24µm. _Hypocopra stercoraria_

107(100) Spores up to 10µm long. 108
- Spores 10µm or longer. 109

108(107) Asci 8-spored. Spores 8 × 4µm. _Sordaria minima_
- Asci ca 128-spored. Spores 5-8 × 4-5µm.
_Sordaria polyspora_

109(107) Spores relatively narrow, at least twice as long as wide,
22-26 × 9-12µm. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct.
_Sordaria alcina_
- Spores relatively broad, less than twice as long as wide.
110

110(109) Spores mostly 25µm or longer. 111
- Spores up to 25µm long. 112

111(110) Spores (21)23-29(30) × 14.5-17(18)µm, with apiculate
base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 240-300
× 20-24µm. _Sordaria superba_
- Spores (26)28-35 × (17)18-22µm, with slightly apiculate
base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 280-350 ×
30-35µm. _Sordaria macrospora_

112(110) Spores with gelatinous sheath absent or very thin,
19.5-25 × 15.5-19µm. _Sordaria humana_ (fig. 33)
- Spores with gelatinous sheath, up to 15µm diam. 113

113(112) Spores obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 18-23 × 12-15µm.
_Sordaria lappae_
- Spores ellipsoid, 17-25 × 10-14µm.
_Sordaria fimicola_ (fig. 33)

114(3) Spores 20-28 × 12-16µm, with subacute ends, each with a
germ pore. _Gelasinospora adjuncta_
- Spores larger. 115

115(114) Asci 4-spored. Spores 24-29 × 15-18µm, with rounded ends
and one germ pore. _Gelasinospora tetrasperma_
- Asci 8-spored. Spores 26-3 _Gelasinospora cerealis_

116(4) Perithecia orange to golden, often gregarious, almost
spherical, necks ca 50µm diam., 15µm high, setae at
ostiole hyaline, up to 35 × 3µm. Spores limoniform,
with a germ pore at each end, 15-25 × 9-16µm.
_Sphaerodes fimicola_ (fig. 33)
- Perithecia yellow or reddish brown (darker when filled
with mature spores), neck 50µm long, with setae at the
ostiole 40-70µm long. Spores dark brown to black,
limoniform, 20-34 × 11-17µm, with apical germ pore.
_Melanospora brevirostris_

117(2) Asci more than 8-spored. see Key 1 at 86
- Asci with 8 or fewer spores, or asci evanescent, not
readily observed. 118

118(117) Perithecia orange/yellow, 500-1000µm diam. Spores long
(over 45µm) or 2-celled if shorter. 119
- Perithecia smaller, or black or with a neck. Spores
shorter (less than 20µm) or septate if longer. 120

119(118) Perithecia orange, 500-1000µm diam., in small groups on
a limited stroma. Spores thick walled, 48-60 × 22-26µm,
with a gelatinous sheath. _Selinia pulchra_
- Perithecia orange yellow, superficial, ca 500µm diam.,
with ostiole in a disc surrounded by silvery triangular
tufts of hyphae ca 100µm long. Spores ellipsoid,
1-septate, 12-14 × 4-5µm. _Nectria suffulta_

120(118) Perithecia reddish brown or pale, hyaline, with a
distinct neck. 121
- Perithecia black. 131

121(120) Perithecia globose, up to 250µm diam., immersed, reddish
brown, with a neck 1-3 mm long. Asci broad ellipsoid,
5-8.5µm, rapidly breaking down and difficult to see.
Spores ellipsoid-allantoid. 5.5-7 × 1.5-2µm, collecting
in a pearly droplet at the fringed tip of the
perithecial beak. _Viennotidia fimicola_ (fig. 34)
- Perithecia pyriform, very pale in colour, 60-200µm diam.,
with a neck 60-700µm long. Asci rarely visible. Spores
pointed-fusiform, 1-3 septate, often with a sheath and
clumped together in fascicles.
(_Pyxidiophora_, fig. 36) 122

122(121) Neck 95-145µm long, brown, rugose, with cells arranged
in 5-6 longitudinal rows visible in one view. Spores
38-52µm long. _Pyxidiophora badiorostris_
- Neck not brown or rugose, composed of hyaline,
irregularly arranged cylindrical cells. 123

123(122) Spores less than 45µm long. 124
- Spores more than 45µm long. 125

124(123) Spores 35-45µm long, with brown apical or subapical
patches of pigment. _Pyxidiophora brunneocapitatus_
- Spores 35-43µm long, without brown apical or subapical
patches of pigment. _Pyxidiophora microsporus_

125(123) Spores mostly 45-60µm long. 126
- Spores mostly longer than 60µm. 129

126(125) Perithecia 70-100µm diam., neck 100-190µm long. Spores
(43)48-58(65)µm long. _Pyxidiophora grovei_
- Perithecia usually less than 80µm diam. 127

127(126) Perithecial necks mostly less than 100µm long. Spores
(45)48-57(60)µm long. _Pyxidiophora arvernensis_
- Perithecial necks up to 200µm long. 128

128(127) Spores 45-53µm long. _Pyxidiophora petchii_ (fig. 36)
- Spores 53-65µm long. _Pyxidiophora schotterianus_

129(125) Spores 60-70µm long. 130
- Spores (75)80-90(100)µm. Perithecia 120-160µm diam.,
neck 220-370µm long. _Pyxidiophora bainemensis_

130(129) Perithecial necks 300-700µm long. Spores 60-70µm.
Perithecia 100-120µm diam. _Pyxidiophora spinuliformis_
- Perithecial necks 225-265µm long. Spores 65-70µm.
Perithecia 110-125µm diam. _Pyxidiophora marchalii_

131(120) Perithecia small, up to 400µm diam., with hairy necks.
Spores hyaline or pale, coppery-red en masse, extruded
in tendrils. 132
- Perithecia larger, without hairy necks. If smaller than
200µm, with spores smaller than 5 × 3µm. 134

132(131) Spores reniform, with gelatinous sheath, 3.5 × 2-3µm,
yellow, reddish brown _en masse_ in extruded tendrils.
Asci spherical, evanescent. Perithecia black, spherical,
200-400µm diam., with cylindrical neck up to 300µm long,
with sparse pointed hairs. _Microascus longirostris_
- Spores larger, not reniform. Perithecia up to 300µm diam. 133

133(132) Perithecial necks long, up to 750µm, with terminal hairs
up to 1500µm, curved or circinate at tips. Spores
limoniform, 7-10.5 × 5.5-7µm. _Lophotrichus ampullus_
- Perithecial necks short, ca 50µm, with long straight
tapering hairs. Spore shape limoniform/variable, 6-7.5 ×
5-5.5µm, with prominent germ pores. _Lophotrichus bartletti_

134(131) Perithecia up to 150µm diam., immersed but for a conical
neck 50-75µm high. Asci 50 × 2-2.5µm. Spores minute,
cylindrical, 3.5-4.5 × 1.75-2.5µm.
_Phomatospora coprophila_ (fig. 35)
- Perithecia more obvious, often hairy, or tomentose when
young. Immature spores up to 70µm long, wavy
cylindrical, with a row of globules inside and a short
thin appendage at each end. (see _Cercophora_, 49)

135(1) Perithecia immersed, surrounded at the neck by a very
limited flange-like stroma which is easily overlooked.
see _Hypocopra_, 101
or if orange see _Selinia_, 119
- Stroma very conspicuous. 136

136(135) Perithecia in a subglobose group at the tip of the
stromatic stalk. Spores with germ slit and gelatinous
sheath. (_Podosordaria_) 137
- Perithecia not in a terminal head. 139

137(136) Stalk short, 3-5mm. Spores (12)14-19 × 6-9µm, slightly
flattened on one side. _Podosordaria leporina_
- Stalk long, 1-6cm. Spores larger. 138

138(137) Spores 21-24 × 11-12µm. Stromatic stalk hairy.
_Podosordaria tulasnei_
- Spores 40-60 × 20-30µm. Stromatic stalk not hairy.
_Podosordaria pedunculata_

139(136) Stroma externally black, rooted or partially immersed
in the dung, expanding at the surface to form a white
disc up to 15mm diam., punctate with black perithecial
ostioles. (_Poronia_) 140
- Stroma not as above. 141

140(139) Spores 18-26 × 7-12µm, bean shaped, with gelatinous
sheath. Stroma deeply rooted. Especially on horse dung.
_Poronia punctata_
- Spores (22)25-32(35) × (12)14-18µm, oblong ellipsoid to
slightly fusiform. Stroma not deeply rooted. Especially
on rabbit dung near the sea. _Poronia erici_

141(139) Stroma spreading over surface of dung or filamentous.
Spores ellipsoid to slightly flattened on one side,
with germ slit. (Xerophilic fungi developing after
long periods of relatively dry incubation).
(_Wawelia_) 142
- Stroma clavate, black, partly immersed to superficial,
usually aggregated in small groups, ca 1-1.5mm high
× 0.6-0.7mm diam., each containing a single perithecium.
Spores ellipsoid with germ pore and gelatinous sheath.
(_Bombardioidea_) 146

142(141) Stroma spreading on substrate, black brown, firm but
not brittle. Ascomata globose, 0.5-1mm, with white
hyphae at neck. Spores broad limoniform, 15-19
× 9-10µm. _Wawelia effusa_
- Perithecia globose to pyriform, black, brown or dark
grey, produced laterally along the length of fine
stromatal strand growing from the dung. 143

143(142) Asci 4-spored. 144
- Asci 8-spored. 145

144(143) Spores 15-18 × 9-12µm. Perithecia up to 400µm diam.,
dark grey at maturity, single or clustered, the ostiole
with a crown of silvery white hyphae. Stromata up to
30 × 0.1-0.5mm. _Wawelia_ sp.
- Spores 6-8 × 4-6µm. Stromata conical, white, 5-12
× 1-2mm. _Wawelia regia_

145(143) Perithecia hairy, globose, 350-500µm diam., stromatal
strands up to 25mm long. Spores ellipsoid, flattened
on one side, 9-12 × 6-8µm. _Wawelia octospora_
- Perithecia villose with conidiophores, globose,
230-420µm diam., produced laterally on stromatic
filaments 20-30 × 0.1-0.3mm. Filaments pink at first,
with a white pointed tip, becoming brown, velvety with
conidiophores. Spores ellipsoid to flattened on one
side, 7.5-9.5 × 3-4.5µm. _Wawelia_ sp. (fig. 37)

146(141) Asci 8-spored. Spores 20-31 × 9.5-15µm.
_Bombardioidea bombardioides_
- Asci 4-spored. 147

147(146) Spores 24-34 × 15-19(20)µm. Basal germ pore less
distinct than the apical one.
_Bombardioidea serignanensis_
- Spores 34-43 × 16-22µm. Distinct germ pore at each end
of spore. _Bombardioidea stercoris_

148 Fruit bodies solitary or in small groups, each a
(key 1,1) subglobose, fertile, light brown head on a slender
sterile stalk. Head soon bursting to expose the yellow
ochraceous spore mass. On mixtures of bird droppings,
cast pellets and decaying animal material. 149
- Fruit bodies superficial, lacking a distinct stalk. 150

149(148) Spores 5-8 × 2-3µm. Head 1-2mm diam.
_Onygena corvina_ (fig. 38)
- Spores 7-9 × 4-6µm, 4-5µm. Head 2-4mm diam.
_Onygena equina_

150(148) Fruit bodies with an external wall of loosely
anastomosing and interwoven hyphae, and with ±
specialised terminal cells (GYMNOTHECIA, fig. 39). 151
- Fruit bodies with a well defined parenchymatic wall
(CLEISTOTHECIA, fig. 46). 161

151(150) Gymnothecia with simple thin-walled, ± uniform and
poorly developed hyphae constituting the outer hyphal
sheath. 152
- Gymnothecia with thick-walled hyphae modified at their
ends into appendages, or if thin-walled then always
accompanied by appendages (i.e. curled, toothed or
pointed hyphae). 155

152(151) Gymnothecia red-orange to brick-red. Ascospores orange,
subglobose to ellipsoid, with an equatorial furrow,
smooth, 4.5-5.5 × 3.5-4.5µm. _Arachniotus ruber_ (fig. 40)
- Gymnothecia white or yellow, never orange or brick-red.
Ascospores without an equatorial furrow. 153

153(152) Gymnothecia white. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid,
smooth, 3-4 × 2-2.5µm. _Arachniotus candidus_
- Gymnothecia distinctly pigmented, yellow or brown.
Ascospores larger than 4µm. 154

154(153) Gymnothecia yellow brown. Ascospores orange to brownish,
slightly lenticular, smooth or slightly roughened,
5-6.5 × 3.3-4.6µm. _Arachniotus confluens_
- Gymnothecia lemon yellow. Ascospores lemon yellow,
lenticular, smooth, 5-6 × 3-4.5µm. _Arachniotus citrinus_

155(151) Gymnothecia possessing only thick pigmented hyphae. 156
- Gymnothecia possessing ± thin, hyaline hyphae with only
a few, although often distinctive, appendages (i.e.
comb-shaped end cells or dumb-bell shaped asperulate
cells accompanying twisted and bent hyphae). 160

156(155) Gymnothecia brown-black or dark greenish-grey, with
external hyphae with spine-like branches and septate,
hooked appendages. Ascospores orange brownish, ovate,
delicately striate, 4-5.2 × 2.4-3.3µm.
_Myxotrichum chartarum_ (fig. 41)
- Gymnothecia never black, and, if possessing thick-walled
hyphae, then appendages never septate. Ascospores smooth,
or if ornamented then asperulate or echinulate. 157

157(156) Gymnothecia rose to orange-brown or yellowish.
Appendages curved or irregularly branched and pointed,
never verticillately branched. Ascospores smooth, or
at most asperulate. 158
- Gymnothecia red-brown with appendages verticillately
branched. Ascospores 3-4.5 × 2-2.8µm, yellowish brown,
lenticular. _Actinodendron verticillatum_

158(157) Gymnothecia rosy pink when young, becoming browner,
with spines and curved, non-septate hairs. Ascospores
hyaline, globose to subglobose, asperulate,
3-5 × 2.5-4µm. _Gymnoascus californiensis_ (fig. 42)
- Gymnothecia yellow. Ascospores smooth. 159

159(158) Gymnothecia yellow to yellow-brown, without elongated
appendages but with thick-walled branches, few of
which are pointed. Ascospores globose-ellipsoid,
yellow to brownish, 3-4.5 × 3.5µm.
_Gymnoascus reesii_ (fig. 43)
- Gymnothecia golden yellow to reddish-brown, with
acute-ended appendages. Ascospores lenticular, smooth,
hyaline, 2.5-3.5 × 2-2.5µm. _Pseudogymnoascus roseus_

160(155) Gymnothecia orange brown, with comb-like appendages.
Ascospores slightly lenticular, pale orange, 3.3-3.6
× 2-2.6µm. _Ctenomyces serratus_ (fig. 44)
- Gymnothecia whitish to pale ochraceous, particularly
when dry, with few appendages but those present twisted
and bent, and their branches constricted with regular
or irregular dumb-bell shaped cells. Hyphal walls
asperulate or with protuberances. Ascospores smooth,
lenticular, hyaline, 2.4-3.3 × 2µm.
_Arthroderma curreyi_ (fig. 45)

161(150) Asci relatively large, 100-200-spored, 1-3/fruit body.
'Cleistothecia' minute, <100 (rarely <250)µm diam.,
immersed. see _Thelebolus_ etc. (Key 1, 86)
- Asci with 8 or fewer spores. 162

162(161) Ascospores purple at maturity, large, 50-70 × 25-35µm,
epispore with a few longitudinal cracks.
see _Ascobolus immersus_ (Key 1, 48)
- Ascospores smaller, hyaline, yellow, olivaceous, brown
or black. 163

163(162) Ascospores olivaceous, brown or black, at least in part. 164
- Ascospores aseptate, hyaline, yellow or other pale colours. 174

164(163) Ascospores 4-celled (cf. _Sporormiella_), with germ
slits, readily fragmenting. Asci clavate, bitunicate.
Cleistothecia black, shiny, up to 500µm diam. 165
- Ascospores 1- or 2-celled. 166

165(164) Ascus stalk up to 20µm long. Ascospores 25-32 × 5µm.
_Preussia vulgaris_
- Ascus stalk 30-60µm long. Ascospores 26-38 × 5-7µm.
_Preussia funiculata_ (fig. 47)

166(164) Ascospores 2-celled. 167
- Ascospores 1-celled. 170

167(166) Spores unequally 2-celled, one brown ellipsoid, with an
apical germ pore, 10-12 × 6.5-7.5µm, the other a basal
hyaline, cylindrical pedicel, 6-8 × 3µm. Cleistothecia
black, globose, up to 250µm diam., covered with
flexuous brown hairs up to 1mm long. Asci evanescent.
_Zopfiella erostrata_
- Spores equally 2-celled. 168

168(167) Spores not constricted at the septum, ellipsoid,
golden-brown, 25-30 × 10-15µm with 1-3 guttules in
each cell. Cleistothecia gregarious on a mycelial mat,
whitish to pale orange, up to 500µm diam.
_Heleococcum aurantiacum_ (fig. 48)
- Spores hyaline, divided into two almost globose cells
by the constricting septum. Ascomata superficial,
globose, dark coloured. (_Mycoarachis_) 169

169(168) Asci 8-spored, 5.5-11µm diam. Spores 5-5.5 × 3-3.5µm.
_Mycoarachis inversa_
- Asci 4-spored, 6-6.5µm diam. Spores 4.5-5 × 2-2.5µm.
_Mycoarachis tetraspora_

170(166) Asci broad-clavate, (1)-2-(3)-spored, 30-50 × 13-18µm.
Spores brown-black with short ridges and warts,
subglobose, 12-15.5 × 11-12.5µm, with a single germ pore.
_Copromyces bisporus_ (fig. 49)
- Asci 8-spored. 171

171(170) Spores globose, sooty brown, 3µm diam. Cleistothecia
gregarious, with basal spirally coiled appendages,
black, 100-200µm diam., partially immersed in a white
to red felty hyphal mat. _Pleuroascus nicholsonii_
- Spores larger, ellipsoid or limoniform. 172

172(171) Spores olivaceous, limoniform, usually with an apical
germ pore. Perithecia greyish or greenish, abundantly
hairy, branched or simple, straight or curly. Asci
pedicellate, soon disappearing. see _Chaetomium_ at 5
- Spores darker, with 1 or more minute germ pores.
Cleistothecia distinctly but not abundantly hairy. 173

173(172) Spores smoky brown, broadly ovoid, 9-14 × 6-9µm.
Cleistothecial hairs short, up to 30µm.
_Thielavia wareingii_
- Spores dark brown, flattened limoniform, 13-16 × 10-13
× 8-9µm. Cleistothecial hairs of two types, some smooth,
dark brown, arising from the base up to 3mm long,
others greyish green, rough, up to ca 120µm.
_Thielavia fimeti_

174(163) Cleistothecia produced within a common arachnoid
mycelial mass. Spores smooth or minutely asperulate,
yellow to yellow-brown, broadly ellipsoid, 4-5 × 3-5µm.
_Aphanoascus fulvescens_
- Cleistothecia single or gregarious, but not on or in
a mycelial mass. 175

175(174) Cleistothecia 170-750µm diam., covered with long
(several mm when extended), thick-walled, aseptate,
helical appendages. Asci clavate cylindrical,
evanescent, 35-62 × 12-21µm. Spores ellipsoid, hyaline,
12-17 × 9-12µm. _Lasiobolidium spirale_
- Cleistothecia without coiled appendages. 176

176(175) Cleistothecia with hairs or appendages. 177
- Cleistothecia smooth. 178

177(176) Cleistothecia black, shining, 100-200µm diam., with dark
brown-black thick-walled hairs with hooked tips. Asci
8-15µm diam. Spores straw or copper coloured, ellipsoid,
4-7 × 3.5-4.5µm with de Bary bubble and a germ pore at
each end. _Kernia nitida_
- Cleistothecia reddish brown, less than 1mm diam., with
long simple appendages curled at the tips. Spores
hyaline, oblate, 3.55 × 2-3µm.
_Arachnomyces nitidus_ (fig. 50)

178(176) Ascospores globose, larger than 9µm. 179
- Ascospores ellipsoid, up to 9µm. Asci always subglobose. 180

179(178) Ascospores, smooth, 9-13µm. _Orbicula parietina_ (fig. 51)
- Ascospores ornamented, 13-24µm Asci subglobose.
Cleistothecia ochraceous, becoming yellowish brown
or flushed cinnamon. _Roumegueriella rufula_ (fig. 52)

180(178) Ascospores hyaline, then faintly yellowish, minutely
spiny, 2.5-3 × 2-2.5µm. Cleistothecia pale, then
dark brown. _Aphanoascus stercoraria_ (fig. 53)
- Ascospores hyaline, then brown, smooth, 5.5-6 × 3.5-4µm.
Cleistothecia dark brown from the beginning.
_Pseudeurotium ovale_ (fig. 54)

Key 3. Basidiomycota

1 Basidia single-celled (fig. 55). 2
- Basidia transversely or longitudinally septate (fig. 55),
or difficult to observe. 71

2(1) Fruit body agaricoid, i.e. mushroom-shaped with gills
underneath cap (figs 56, 67). 3
- Fruit body not agaricoid, without gills (figs 65, 66). 69

3(2) Spore print white or pale coloured, hyaline s.m. (Usually
on straw/dung mixtures, never on raw dung except when
very old). 5
- Spore print coloured. 4

4(3) Spore print pinkish or pale cinnamon, honey-coloured s.m.
(Usually on straw/dung mixtures, never on raw dung). 6
- Spore print darker, in shades of brown or black. 8

5(3) Stem eccentric. Fruit body pure white. Spores ellipsoid,
smooth. _Pleurotellus_ s. lato
(If gills pink and spores longitudinally ridged see
_Clitopilus passackerianus_, fig. 67)
- Stem central. 7

6(4) Fruit body white, ivory or very pale tan, with a smell of
cucumber. Gills decurrent. _Clitocybe augeana_
- Fruit body yellow, with scaly cap. Gills free or just
adnate. Fruit body with distinct ring and granular veil.
(Commonly in plant pots. Probably associated with peaty
material more than dung). _Leucocoprinus birnbaumii_
(_L. cepaestipes_ and _L. lilacinogranulosus_ occur in similar
situations).

7(5) Fruit body with amethyst/purple shades, with eccentric
stem. Spores subglobose, slightly ornamented to nearly
smooth. (On compost heaps in gardens). _Lepista nuda_
- Fruit body with pink gills and distinct volva at stem
base. Cap white to pale hazel. Stem white. Spores
broadly ellipsoid, smooth. _Volvariella speciosa_

8(4) Spore print distinctly brown (fulvous, tawny, rust
coloured etc.). 9
- Spore print some darker shade, fuscous, fuliginous or
violaceous black. 20

9(8) Stem distinctly annulate, apex striate. _Conocybe percincta_
(Has been found on straw/dung mixtures, never on raw
dung).
- Stem lacking a veil. 10

10(9) Cap rich chrome yellow, viscid, soon reduced to a
sticky mass, easily collapsing. _Bolbitius vitellinus_
- Cap in shades of brown, never brightly coloured and if
collapsing then cap elongate-cylindric and white to
pale cream. 11

11(10) Spore print dull, sepia or snuff-brown. On rabbit
pellets in sand dunes. _Agrocybe subpediades_
- Spore print, brighter coloured, orange/rust brown.
(_Conocybe_) 12

12(11) Gill edge with irregularly fusoid cystidia with obtuse
apices (lageniform). Cap viscid. _Conocybe coprophila_
- Gill edge with distinctly capitate cells resembling a
glass stoppered bottle (lecythiform). Cap never viscid,
often pubescent under a lens. 13

13(12) Stem covered in long hairs. 14
- Stem covered in lecythiform cells similar to those on
gill edge, giving a farinaceous appearance under a lens.
NEVER with long hairs. (Dung/straw mixtures). Large as
in a _Cortinarius_. Spores smooth. _Conocybe intrusa_
(_C. leucopus_ has been found on manured soil in gardens;
_C. antipus_ has hexagonal spores and grows on dung piles).

14(13) Stem with both long hairs and lecythiform cystidia.
15
- Stem with hairs and lageniform cystidia.
16

15(14) Spores 11-14 × 7-9µm. Taste and smell strong, of fresh
meal. _Conocybe farinacea_
- Spores large, over 15 × up to 10µm. Taste and smell
none or slightly acidic. _Conocybe pubescens_
(_C. subpubescens_ might be found on straw/dung mixtures, and
differs in spores 11-13 × 6-8µm).

16(14) Basidia 2-spored. _Conocybe rickenii_
- Basidia 4-spored. 17

17(16) Spores ellipsoid. 18
- Spores lentiform, angular in face view.
_Conocybe lenticulospora_

18(17) Cap grey, contrasting with yellowish cream gills and
pale stem. Spores 10.5-12.5 × 6-7µm. _Conocybe murinacea_
- Cap pinkish brown or tawny. 19

19(18) Spores 11-12 × 7.2-7.8µm. Cap sienna. On raw dung.
_Conocybe fimetaria_
- Spores 10-12 × 6-7µm. Cap pinkish to cinnamon brown.
On manured soil or sewage sludge.
_Conocybe fuscomarginata_
(_Conocybe siennophylla_ might be found on straw/dung mixtures
or in soil in greenhouses. It differs in having smaller spores).

20(8) Cap deliquescing to some degree at maturity. Basidia
of 2 or 3 different sizes. (_Coprinus_) 21
- Cap not deliquescing. Basidia of one size only. 49

21(20) Veil on cap absent, cap either covered with small
hairs (setules) or naked. 22
- Cap covered with a granular, micaceous, powdery or
fibrillar veil. 28

22(21) Cap without setules. 23
- Cap with setules. 24

23(22) Cap minute, 1-5mm high before expanding, reddish orange
at first, soon fading. Basidiospores almost globose
to triangular in one view, elliptic in another, 7-10
× 7-9 × 5.5-6.5µm. (2- and 4-spored forms have been
found). _Coprinus miser_
- Cap larger, up to 15mm when expanded. Basidiospores
pip-shaped, 7.5-8.5 × 9.5-11 × 9.5-11.5µm. (4-spored).
_Coprinus nudiceps_

24(22) Spores hexagonal, 10-13 × 6.5-7.5µm. Cap purplish.
_Coprinus hexagonosporus_
- Spores ellipsoid. Cap brown or reddish, without
purplish tints. 25

25(24) Basidia 4-spored. 26
- Basidia 2-spored. Spores 11-13 × 5.5-7µm. Facial
cystidia absent. _Coprinus bisporus_
(_Coprinus sassii_, not yet recorded in British Isles, has
2-spored basidia with very large ellipsoid spores up to 20µm
long).

26(25) Cap with a mixture of hyaline and brown thick-walled
setules. Spores 9-10 × 5.5-6µm, with eccentric germ
pore. Facial cystidia absent.
_Coprinus heterosetulosus_
- Cap with only one type of setule. Facial cystidia
present or absent. 27

27(26) Facial cystidia present. Spores 7.9-13.3 × 4.4-6.4µm,
with apical germ pore. _Coprinus stellatus_
- Facial cystidia absent. Spores elongate and narrow,
rarely greater than 5µm wide, with apical germ pore.
Fruit body usually quite small, up to 6mm before
expanding. _Coprinus pellucidus_ (fig. 58)
(Several species in the group, e.g. _C. congregatus_ and
_C. ephemerus_ have been found on straw/dung mixtures).

28(21) Veil strongly adhering to cap. Spores elliptic ovate,
15-20 × 8-12µm. Stem with distinct ring. Usually on
buried dung. _Coprinus sterquilinus_
- Veil more floccose or powdery. Stem lacking ring or,
if present (_C. ephemeroides_), fruit body small with
5-angled spores less than 10µm long. 29

29(28) Veil composed of filamentous units. 30
- Filamentous units, if present, masked by a preponderance
of rounded cells. 35

30(29) Veil composed of strings of sausage-shaped, thin-walled,
hyaline cells. 31
- Veil composed of rather narrow, slightly thickened hyphae. 32

31(30) Spores large, 11-14 × 6-7µm. Cap up to 1cm before
expanding. Fruit body with or without a rooting base.
_Coprinus radiatus_
- Spores smaller, up to 9µm long. Cap up to 6mm before
expanding. Fruit body without a rooting base.
_Coprinus pseudoradiatus_ (fig. 59)
(_C. cinereus_ is found on straw/dung mixture and
_C. macrocephalus_, with large spores, has been recorded on
raw dung).

32(30) Veil citrus- or lime-yellow, or a mixture of hyaline
and brown strongly coloured hyphae. 33
- Veil grey or whitish. 34

33(32) Veil of yellow hyphae. Spores 10.5-12.5 × 6-7.5µm.
_Coprinus luteocephalus_
- Veil with brown hyphae. Spores 7-9 × 3.5-5µm.
_Coprinus poliomallus_

34(32) Veil hyphae thin-walled. Spores 6.5-7.5 × 5µm,
'shouldered' about the apiculus.
_Coprinus filamentifer_ (fig. 61)
- Veil hyphae thin- and thick-walled, often with clamps.
Spores elliptic-oblong, 9-10 × 5-6µm.
_Coprinus vermiculifer_ (fig. 60)
(_Coprinus flocculosus_, with spores 11.5-16.5 × 6-9.5µm, can
be found on straw/dung mixtures).

35(29) Stem with small, distinct ring. Spores subglobose to
lentiform and 5-angled, 6-9 × 6.5-8 × 5-6µm.
_Coprinus ephemeroides_
- Stem at most with fibrils, even then rarely forming a
faint ring zone. 36

36(35) with setules in addition to veil. 37
- Cap without setules. 38

37(36) Cap cystidia tapered. Spores 11-14 × 5-6.5µm.
_Coprinus heptemerus_
- Cap cystidia capitate. Spores 10-11 × 6-7µm.
_Coprinus curtus_

38(36) Veil of inflated bladder-like cells attached to
filamentous units. Spores 7.5-8 × 4.5-5.5µm.
_Coprinus utrifer_
- Veil of globose and subglobose cells and filamentous
units often encrusted or with minute projections found
sometimes at cap margin. 39

39(38) Globose cells, if ornamented then possessing crystalline
or amorphous material (dissolved by 1N HCl, fig. 64.) 40
- Globose cells covered in small fine blunt projections
on the walls (not removed by 1N HCl, fig. 64). 45

40(39) Basidia 2-spored. 41
- Basidia 4-spored. 42

41(40) Spores 14-17 × 8.5-10 × 12.5-14µm. _Coprinus pachyspermus_
- Spores smaller, 9-11 × 6-6.5 × 8-9µm. _Coprinus cordisporus_
(2-spored form)

42(40) Spores less than 10µm long. _Coprinus cordisporus_ (fig. 63)
(_C. patouillardii_ is known on garden refuse, and an
undescribed species with lemon-shaped spores has recently
been found).
- Spores 10µm or more long. 43

43(42) Veil soon discolouring greyish, drab or buff, Spores
11.5-14.5 × 6-8 × 7.5-9µm. _Coprinus cothurnatus_
- Veil remaining snowy white, only slowly discolouring
greyish. 44

44(43) Fruit bodies several cm tall. Spores 15-19 × 8.5-11.5 ×
11-13µm. _Coprinus niveus_
- Cap small, 5-6mm at first. Spores 14-16 x 8-9 ×
10-12.5µm. _Coprinus latisporus_

45(39) Basidia 3-spored. 46
- Basidia 4-spored. 47

46(45) Spores narrow, 8.5-11 × 5-6.2µm. _Coprinus triplex_
- Spores broad, 9-10 x 6-6.5 × 6-7µm, slightly flattened
in face view. _Coprinus trisporus_
(These are possibly a single taxon).

47(45) Spores 7-8 × 4-4.5µm, perispore not visible in water
or alkali mounts. _Coprinus stercoreus_ (fig. 62)
- Spores 9µm or more long. 48

48(47) Spores 9-11 × 5.5-6µm. Perisporal sac none or
incomplete or indistinct. _Coprinus foetidellus_
- Spores longer, 10.8-13.5 × 5.5-7µm, with distinct
perispore with dark lines and inclusions. Distinctive
smell of gas. _Coprinus narcoticus_
(_C. sclerotiger_ is found on straw/dung mixtures, and the
smaller _C. tuberosus_ on garden refuse etc.).

49(20) Spores not discoloured in conc. H2SO4. 50
- Spores discolouring in conc. H2SO4. Gills not spotted
at maturity. 66

50(49) Cap cuticle cellular. Gills spotted at maturity. (More
often on rich, 'dungy', soils. _P. subbalteatus_, with
copper coloured cap, drying paler but retaining a dark
marginal zone, occurs in gardens on mulch etc.).
(_Panaeolus_) 51
- Cap cuticle filamentous. 56

51(50) Velar remnants very obvious, either as an appendiculate
veil or as a distinct ring. 52
- Lacking all velar remnants. 54

52(51) Cap distinctly pigmented, with appendiculate veil. 53
- Cap pale coloured, smooth, semi-globate, soon cracking.
Gills with marginal cystidia only.
_Panaeolus papilionaceus_

53(52) Cap brown, smooth, sometimes viscid, not exceedingly
wrinkled. _Panaeolus campanulatus_
- Cap grey, olivaceous, even black, with contrasting
white appendiculate veil. _Panaeolus sphinctrinus_

54(51) Cap with or without appendiculate veil, but always with
distinct ring. _Panaeolus semiovatus_
- Cap lacking veil. 55

55(54) Cap pinkish ochraceous to tawny-buff. Lacking facial
cystidia. _Panaeolus speciosus_
- Cap whitish or slightly yellowish. With facial cystidia.
_Panaeolus antillarum_

56(50) Gills with facial cystidia often containing yellow
amorphous material when seen in ammonia solution or
deep blue with cotton blue. (_Stropharia_) 57
(Blue-green _S. cyanea_ & _S. aeruginosa_ often occur in
rich garden soils).
- Gills lacking facial cystidia. Never with yellowing
cystidia in ammonia. (_Psilocybe_) 58
(Red-capped _P. aurantia_ can be found on straw/mulch mixtures
in gardens).

57(56) Cap sticky, semi-globate ± expanding at maturity. On raw
dung. _Stropharia semiglobata_
- Cap plano-convex, often broad with a central umbo,
margin flaring with age. On dungy mixtures in
gardens. _Stropharia stercoraria_

58(56) Stipe bluing, with ring. Spores ellipsoid, 11-14 ×
6.5-7.5µm. Fruit body with mealy smell and taste.
_Psilocybe fimetaria_
- Stipe lacking distinct ring, or if with ring or ring
zone 2-spored and/or stem not bluing. Fruit body without
mealy smell and taste. 59

59(58) Stem always with distinct ring. Basidia 2-spored.
Spores 15-20µm long. _Psilocybe luteonitens_
- Stem with or without ring. Basidia 4-spored. If with
ring, spores smaller. 60

60(59) With ring zone. 61
- Lacking velar remnants on stem, or only appendiculate
teeth at cap margin. 62

61(60) Spores slightly angular/limoniform, 11-13(14) × 7-8µm.
Often on sewage sludge. _Psilocybe merdaria_
- Spores 13-14 × 7.5-8.5µm. _Psilocybe moelleri_

62(60) Spores 14-20 × 8-10µm. _Psilocybe subcoprophila_
- Spores smaller. 63

63(62) Spores lentiform, angled, 6-8(8.5) × 4.5-5.5 ×
3.75-4.5µm. _Psilocybe bullacea_
(_P. crobula_, occasional on dung, differs in lacking purple
colour in gills, and slightly smaller, ovoid, not angular,
spores).
- Spores larger. 64

64(63) Spores ellipsoid to slightly amygdaliform.
_Psilocybe merdicola_
- Spores lentiform, angular. 65

65(64) Spores 11-13(14) × 7-8(9)µm. see _Psilocybe merdaria_, 61
- Spores 12-15 × 8-9.5µm _Psilocybe coprophila_

66(49) Round cells on cap as a micaceous veil. (Re-examine
gill face; if different sized basidia and facial
cystidia separating the gills are present go to
_Coprinus_ at 21). _Psathyrella sphaerocystis_
- Cap lacking veil, or if present then fibrillar. 67

67(66) White copious veil at margin or also covering cap
centre. Spores 10-12 × 5.5-6µm. _Psathyrella coprobia_
- Lacking copious veil. 68

68(67) With red edge to gill. Spores 12-13 × 6-6.5µm, with
central germ pore. _Psathyrella stercoraria_
- Lacking red gill edge. Spores with eccentric germ pore.
_Psathyrella coprophila_
(_P. fimetaria_ differs in spore size; there are several members
of the _P. prona_ group which grow on soil/straw mixtures).

69(2) Fruit body club-shaped. _Typhula setipes_ (fig. 65)
(_Clavaria acuta_ often grows on peaty soil in pots
in greenhouses).
- Fruit bodies effuse, resupinate 70

70(69) Fruit-body cobweb-like and greyish white. Basal hyphae
3-4.5µm wide. Spores sub-globose, 4.5µm diam. (Generally
on old dung or straw/soil mixtures). _Athelia coprophila_
(If with spiny spores 5-6µm diam., see the recently recorded
_Tomentellopsis echinospora_).
- Fruit-body with pores, white or flushed slightly
ochraceous, brownish or greyish. (On clods of soil in
dunged land). _Cristella candidissima_

71(1) Fruit body either a cup containing several 'eggs' or a
single orange or yellowish gelatinous sphere. 72
- Fruit-body effuse, without distinct shape. 73

72(71) Fruit-body whitish or pale yellow, up to 2.5mm diam.,
splitting at maturity to shoot away the orange/yellow
spore mass. _Sphaerobolus stellatus_ (fig. 66)
- Fruit-body cup shaped, with silvery-grey 'eggs'.
(Usually on dung and straw or attached to rabbit
pellets). _Cyathus stercoreus_
(_Cyathus vernicosus_ often grows in plant pots on rich soil).

73(71) Basidia with transverse septa. Spores 11 × 7µm. Fruit
body pinkish. _Platygloea fimicola_
(Not British; included for completeness. _Pilacrella solani_,
with a glistening stipitate head, has been isolated from
dungy soil).
- Basidia with longitudinal septa. Spores 14-18 × 9-10µm.
Fruit body cream-white or ivory. _Sebacina incrustans_

Key 4. Zygomycota

1 Spores formed in multispored sporangia (figs 68, 70,
72, 75, 76) or in few-spored sporangioles (figs 70, 73). 2
- Multispored sporangia and globose sporangioles absent.
Spores formed singly on terminal, lateral or
intermediate vesicles (figs 74, 79, 80, 82-86), or
in short chains (figs 77, 78, 81). 11

2(1) Sporangiophore stout, simple, with a subsporangial
swelling and a basal swelling buried in the substrate.
Sporangia tough walled, black, projected some distance
towards the light when mature, and sticking to whatever
they hit. _Pilobolus_ (fig. 76)
e.g. spores pale yellow, 8-10 × 5-6µm - _P. crystallinus_
spores orange, 12-20 × 6-10µm. - _P. kleinii_
- Sporangiophores not stout; sporangia not violently
discharged. 3

3(2) Sporangial wall black, tough, not readily broken when
touched. Sporangia with a sticky base, becoming
attached to whatever they contact after the marked
elongation of the white sporangiophores at maturity.
_Pilaira_ (fig. 75)
e.g. spores yellowish, 8-10 × 6µm - _P. anomala_
spores colourless, 11-13 × 6-8µm - _P. moreaui_
- Sporangial wall diffluent, spores readily removed in
a droplet, or fragile and then spores easily dispersed
by external violence. 4

4(3) Sporangiophores stiff and metallic in appearance,
growing towards the light and often to great length
(5-30cm). _Phycomyces_
e.g. spores 10.5-30 × 6.5-17µm; columella pyriform;
sporangiophores up to 30cm - _P. nitens_
spores 8-13 × 5-7.5µm; columella spherical or ovoid;
sporangiophores up to 30cm - _P. blakesleeanus_
- Sporangiophores white, not reaching extreme lengths. 5

5(4) Small lateral sporangia (sporangioles) present. 10
- Sporangioles absent. 6

6(5) Sporangiophores usually grouped, less often single,
connected by stolon-like hyphae. 7
- Sporangiophores arising singly, or if grouped then
lacking stolon-like hyphae. 9

7(6) Stolons joining groups of sporangiophores often with
rhizoids at the base of the group. 8
- Sporangiophores arising singly or in groups from
stolons, which may be 'rooted' at intervals along
their length, but rarely beneath the groups of
sporangiophores. _Absidia_ (fig. 71)
e.g. sporangiophores grouped, rhizoids poorly
developed; spores 2.5-4.5µm diam. - _A. corymbifera_
sporangiophores grouped, rhizoids strongly developed;
spores 2.5-3.5µm diam. - _A. orchidis_

8(7) Sporangiophores mostly unbranched. _Rhizopus_ (fig. 69)
e.g. spores irregularly angular-ovoid, 8-14 × 11µm
- _R. nigricans_
- Sporangiophores with a whorl of branches beneath the
main sporangium, each with a small columellate
sporangium. Spores 6-8.5µm. _Actinomucor elegans_

9(6) Sporangia often with pigmented walls, yellowish when
young, finally grey or black, with well marked columella
left after spore dispersal. Individual sporangiophores
observable with unaided eye, up to 20mm long.
_Mucor_ (fig. 68)
e.g. spores smooth, 7-8 × 2.5-4.5µm - _M. hiemalis_
spores smooth, 6-12 x 3-6µm - _M. mucedo_
spores asperulate, 5-8.µm diam. - _M. plumbeus_
(N.B. _Zygorhynchus_ would key out with _Mucor_. It is more
often isolated from soil, and is distinguished from _Mucor_
by the presence of zygospores with unequal suspensors)
- Sporangia white, without a columella, readily becoming
a spore droplet. Sporangiophores delicate, often only
200-400µm long. Fine, white, garlic-smelling mycelium
often present. _Mortierella_ (fig. 72)
e.g. spores 16-27µm diam, few in each sporangium;
sporangiophores ca 150µm, with short lateral branches
at right angles - _M. reticulata_
spores 6-10 x 4-6µm; sporangiophores 2-3mm high,
with ascending branches - _M. bainieri_
spores 4-10µm; sporangiophores richly branched - _M. candelabrum_

10(5) Sporangioles formed at the final tips of a densely
dichotomous system of branchlets, originating some
distance below a terminal sporangium (which may be
absent in young specimens). Sporangioles up to 25µm
diam., with up to 6 spores. Spores 8-12 × 6-8µm.
_Thamnidium elegans_ (fig. 70)
- Sporangioles either at the curved tips of slender
branches, or clustered in groups about halfway along
tapering branches which radiate from the sporangiophore
below the sporangium; the branch tips of the latter
give the fertile portion of the sporangiophore a
bristly appearance. _Helicostylum_ (fig. 73)
e.g. spores 8-17 × 3-7µm; sporangioles on short
secondary or tertiary branches; fertile region bristly
with sterile branches - _H. fresenii_
spores 6-8 × 4µm; sporangioles reflexed, on slender
primary or secondary branches; fertile region without
sterile branches - _H. pyriforme_

11(1) Spores formed in chains. 12
- Spores formed singly. 14

12(11) Sporangiophores regularly and repeatedly dichotomously
branched. Chains of 2-10 spores produced in small
groups, which may be wet or dry, on deciduous heads,
4-15µm diam. Parasitic on other fungi, mostly other
Mucorales. _Piptocephalis_ (fig. 78)
e.g. spores 4-5 × 2-3µm, in pairs; heads dry - _P. lepidula_
spores 5-6 × 2-2.5µm, in chains of 4-9;
heads dry - _P. cylindrospora_
spores 4-8 × 2-4µm, in chains of 3-5; heads dry;
sporangiophore without rhizoids - _P. freseniana_
spores 4-6 × 4-4.5µm, in chains of 3-6; heads wet;
sporangiophore with rhizoids - _P. repens_
spores 3-5 × 2-2.5µm, in chains of 3-5, heads wet; head
cell lyses, to leave only a fringe at the tip of the
very fine sporangiophore - _P. fimbriata_
- Sporangiophores simple or irregularly branched. 13

13(12) A large conspicuous fungus, macroscopically Mucor-like,
mycelium coarse. Sporangiophores with a distinct terminal
swelling with crowded spore chains. Spores usually 5-10
in a chain, globose to ovoid, 2-8 × 4-6µm.
_Syncephalastrum racemosum_ (fig. 81)
- Sporangiophores less conspicuous, 100-1000µm high, with
a 'holdfast' at the base attaching the sporangiophore to
the substrate. Mycelium very fine. Parasitic on other
Mucorales. _Syncephalis_ (fig. 77)
e.g. sporangiophores 100-200µm high, with three
'nodes' along their length; merosporangia often forked
at the basal cell; spores 8-10 × 6µm - _S. nodosa_
sporangiophores up to 750µm high; merosporangia
usually subdivided at their base into several branches,
each with 5-10 spores; spores 5-10 × 3-4µm - _S. depressa_
(N.B. _Oedocephalum_ spp. (fig. 79), the anamorphic states of
many dung fungi (esp. Ascobolaceae and Pezizaceae),
_Rhopalomyces_ (fig. 80), and some _Aspergillus_ spp. are
superficially similar to _Syncephalis_ at first sight).

14(11) Sporangia containing a single closely fitting elongated
spore, produced in serried ranks on one side of a
boat-shaped branch (sporoclade). 15
- Single-spored sporangia ('spores') globose, produced
singly or if in groups not on sporoclades. 16

15(14) Sporoclades lateral. Sporangiophores usually yellowish.
(No parasitism has been demonstrated, but in culture
grows much better in the presence of the white,
garlic-smelling _Mortierella_ spp.). _Coemansia_ (fig. 82)
e.g. spores 6-11µm long; sporoclades spirally arranged
around the axis - _C. erecta_
spores 16-18µm long; sporoclades formed on one side of the
axis, causing it to curve to one side - _C. scorpoidea_
- Sporoclades produced in a terminal verticil.
Sporangiophores shining white.
_Kickxella alabastrina_ (fig. 83)

16(14) Spores produced in clusters below the apex of the final
branches of a compound, often trifid, branching system
which is given a bristly appearance by the projecting
tips. Superficially similar to _Thamnidium_ or
_Helicostylum_. Capable of parasitising, and growing
much better in association with, other Mucorales.
_Chaetocladium_ (fig. 74)
e.g. spores smooth, 4-6µm diam. - _C. brefeldii_
spores echinulate, 6.5-9.5µm - _C. jonesii_
- 'Spores' not produced in subterminal clusters, but
terminally on lateral vesicles, or over the surface of
swollen fertile regions of the sporangiophore. 17

17(16) Sporangiophores up to 250µm high. Lateral vesicles
numerous, each producing a single 'spore', which is
projected when mature. Parasitic on tardigiades.
_Ballocephala_ (fig. 86)
- Sporangiophores visible with the unaided eye. Spores
produced on swollen parts of the sporangiophore. 18

18(17) Sporangiophores branched, with more or less globose
terminal fertile regions. Spores dry and powdery,
yellowish or pinkish in mass. _Cunninghamella_ (fig. 84)
e.g. spores smooth, ovoid, 18-22 × 10-14µm or
globose, 8-10µm diam. - _C. elegans_
spores echinulate, ovoid, 8-12µm - _C. africana_
- Sporangiophores unbranched, fertile portion 200-300 ×
15-20µm. Fertile region terminal only, cylindrical.
Spores smooth, greyish in mass, 2-4µm diam.
_Mycotypha microspora_ (fig. 85)
(N.B. _Ostracoderma epigea_ (fig. 85), the anamorph of
_Peziza astracoderma_, which occurs on paper and sometimes
dung and highly organic substrates, was originally described
as _Mycotypha dichotoma_. The fertile regions are cylindrical
but multiple as the result of several close dichotomous
divisions at the base of the fertile portion).

Notes

[1] There are few reports of _Ascozonus_, apart from _A. woolhopensis_.
Observed spore sizes of _A. woolhopensis_ suggest that measurement of
Renny's (1874) illustrations of spores leads to values which are too
large (19-20 × 6-6.5µm). Those in parentheses are what they might be,
based on the discrepancy between observed values for _A. woolhopensis_
and Renny's illustration.