{{Short description|Family of fungi}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Lacrymaria lacrymabunda (Bull.) Pat 173183 crop.jpg | image_caption = ''Lacrymaria lacrymabunda'' | taxon = Psathyrellaceae | authority = Vilgalys, Moncalvo & Redhead (2001) | type_genus = ''Psathyrella'' | type_genus_authority = (Fr.) Quél. (1872) | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = ''Britzelmayria''<br/> ''Coprinellus''<br/> ''Coprinopsis''<br/> ''Cystoagaricus''<br/> ''Gasteroagaricoides''<br/> ''Homophron''<br/> ''Hormographiella''<br/> ''Kauffmania''<br/> ''Lacrymaria''<br/> ''Macrometrula''<br/> ''Narcissea''<br /> ''Olotia''<br/> †''Palaeocybe''<br/> ''Parasola''<br/> ''Psathyrella''<br/> ''Punjabia''<br/> ''Tulosesus''<br/> ''Typhrasa'' }}
The '''Psathyrellaceae''' are a family of dark-spored agarics that generally have rather soft, fragile fruiting bodies, and are characterized by black, dark brown, rarely reddish, or even pastel-colored spore prints. About 50% of species produce fruiting bodies that dissolve into ink-like ooze when the spores are mature via autodigestion. Prior to phylogenetic research based upon DNA comparisons, most of the species that autodigested were classified as '''Coprinaceae''', which contained all of the inky-cap mushrooms. However, the type species of ''Coprinus'', ''Coprinus comatus'', and a few other species, were found to be more closely related to Agaricaceae. The former genus ''Coprinus'' was split between two families, and the name "Coprinaceae" became a synonym of Agaricaceae in its 21st-century phylogenetic redefinition. Note that in the 19th and early 20th centuries the family name Agaricaceae had far broader application, while in the late 20th century it had a narrower application. The family name Psathyrellaceae<ref>Redhead SA, Vilgalys R, Moncalvo J-M, Johnson J & Hopple, JS Jr. ''Coprinus'' Pers. and the disposition of ''Coprinus'' species ''sensu lato''. ''Taxon'' '''50'''(1): 203-241. 2001</ref> is based on the former Coprinaceae subfamily name Psathyrelloideae. The type genus ''Psathyrella'' consists of species that produce fruiting bodies which do not liquify via autodigestion. ''Psathyrella'' remained a polyphyletic genus until it was split into several genera including 3 new ones in 2015.<ref>Örstadius L., Ryberg M, Larsson E. Molecular phylogenetics and taxonomy in Psathyrellaceae (Agaricales) with a focus on psathyrelloid species: introduction of three new genera and 18 new species. Mycol. Progr. 14:25: 1-41. 2015</ref> ''Lacrymaria'' is another genus that does not autodigest. It is characterized by rough basidiospores and lamellar edges that exude beads of clear liquid when in prime condition, hence the Latin reference, ''lacryma'' (tears).
Most Psathyrellaceae basidiospores have germ pores, and the pigment in the spore walls bleaches when soaked in concentrated sulfuric acid. This contrasts with another phylogenetically unrelated dark-spored genus, ''Panaeolus''. Psathyrellaceae are saprotrophs or rarely mycoparasites on other agarics (e.g. ''Psathyrella epimyces''). They often occur in nitrogen-rich habitats such as dung, wet soft decayed wood, lawns and gardens.
==Genera ''Coprinellus'', ''Coprinopsis'' and ''Parasola''== Species in the genera ''Coprinellus'', ''Coprinopsis'' and ''Parasola'' were until recently classified in the genus ''Coprinus'', or in the case of a few ''Coprinellus'' species, in ''Pseudocoprinus''. Based on molecular data, the genus ''Coprinus'' was divided, with these three genera moved to the family Psathyrellaceae. [https://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2004.html].
''Coprinellus'' is a genus first described by Petter Karsten in 1879. ''Coprinopsis'' was split from the genus ''Coprinus'' based on molecular data. The species ''Coprinopsis cinerea'' is a model organism for mushroom-forming Basidiomycota as it has a complete genome sequence available and is easy to culture.
==See also== *List of Agaricales families
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Psathyrellaceae}} *[https://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinus.html "The Genus ''Coprinus'': The Inky Caps"] by Michael Kuo, ''MushroomExpert.com'', February, 2005. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080101010230/http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~idakees/ All about Inkcaps: ''Coprinus'' site of Kees Uljé] – taxonomy and keys to coprinoid fungi. *[https://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2004.html Fungus of the Month for May 2004: ''Coprinus comatus'', the shaggy mane] by Tom Volk, ''TomVolkFungi.net''. – Includes information on how the genus ''Coprinus'' was recently segregated. *[https://www.mushroomthejournal.com/greatlakesdata/Taxa/PsathGenus132.html ''Psathyrella'' Genus], ''Illinois Mycological Association'' (online).
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Category:Psathyrellaceae Category:Basidiomycota families