Summary:
Coprinopsis psychromorbida is characterized microscopically by having thick-walled, brownish, antler-like veil elements and brown, thick-walled oval to elliptic spores, mostly 7.2-8.8 x 5-6 microns. Other features are a small, white, conic cap with brown scales; free, close, white gills that turn brown and deliquesce; a white stem; and fruiting on dead or aging parts of herbaceous plants usually in arid areas. It has been linked to snow mold damage, (Redhead(13)). Following the 1981 description, Redhead reported the occurrence of C. phaeospora Karsten in BC and comments that C. phaeospora "was thought to be a vicariant taxon of the pathogen, Coprinus psychromorbidus Redhead & Traquair, a common species on the Canadian prairies. Mating tests will be needed to determine whether the latter is an autonomous species or a morphologically, physiologically, and geographically different subspecies of C. phaeosporus." (Redhead(9), Latin names italicized). The description of Coprinopsis psychromorbida is derived from Redhead(13). This species was in Section Herbicolae of Coprinus sensu lato along with Coprinopsis kubickae and Coprinopsis phaeospora (at least some of this section included by Moser in Section Coprinus). It is likely that there are other Pacific Northwest species in this section which has not been well studied in the region. Coprinopsis psychromorbida is the more recently published name based on microscopic evidence (Redhead(49)).

Cap:
0.5-1.2cm across, 0.5-1.2cm high, conical to flat; white, brown scales; floccose

Gills:
free, close; white becoming blackish brown and deliquescing

Stem:
2.6-7cm x 0.1-0.3cm, white bald or floccose

Microscopic spores:
spores (6.4)7.2-8.8(9.6) x (4.2)5-6(7.3) microns, elliptic or oval, variable in shape and degree of pigmentation, smooth, thick-walled, with apical germ pore; pleurocystidia 65-100 x 15-20 microns, fusiform, colorless; hyphae of veil yellow-brown [also referred to as brownish], thick-walled, branched in antler-like fashion

Spore deposit:
[presumably dark brown or blackish]

Notes:
Collections of Coprinopsis psychromorbida were examined from BC, AB, MB, ON, and SK, (Redhead(13)).

EDIBILITY

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Coprinus psychromorbidus Redhead & Traquair