Habitat: On decayed wood of deciduous trees, often in large caespitose clusters. Sometimes on buried wood and then appearing as if terrestrial. Notes: Common and widespread. Should be distinguished microscopically from the superficially similar Coprinus alopecius which has roughened or warted spores. Ref: BC Based on recent molecular studies published by Hopple & Vilgalys in 1999 (Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 13: 1-19), Redhead, Vilgalys, Moncalvo, Johnson & Hopple (2001. Taxon 50: 203-241) recently split the large and well-known agaric genus Coprinus Pers. taxonomically into four genera and two families. Coprinus comatus , the universally recognized lectotype for Coprinus , and two other species are now recognized as belonging with Lepiota and Agaricus in the Agaricaceae. This transfer renders the younger name (Coprinaceae) synonymous and superfluous. Over 95% of the remaining former Coprinus species are now treated with Psathyrella in a separate family, for which the name Psathyrellaceae has been proposed. Except for C. comatus and close allies, all former Coprinus species have now been distributed into Coprinopsis, Coprinellus, and Parasola within the Psathyrellaceae. Lorelei Norvell (2001)
