Closed pileus globose, subglobose to ellipsoid, up to 12 mm high and 9 mm wide, completely covered with powdery white veil, but very young buds and centre of pileus of more advanced stages often cream to pale ochraceous (Mu. 10 YR 8/3); veil at margin, particularly in early stages, somewhat more hairy-floccose; expanded pileus up to 25(-35) mm wide, convex or flat with slightly deflexed margin, rarely completely expanded; veil with age greying. Lamellae, L = 20-36, l = 1-3, free, up to 2 mm wide, white at first, then greyish to grey with blackish spots. Stipe up to 80 x 2.5 mm, attenuate upwards, at apex up to 1.5 mm wide, white but at apex often somewhat hyaline and brownish towards subbulbous, up to 3.5 mm wide base, with white velar flocks. Smell absent. Spore print dark chocolate brown (Mu. 5 YR 2/1).
  Spores [160,8,8] 7.3-10.6 x 5.8-8.0 x 5.0-7.1 µm, Q = 1.20-1.65, av. Q = 1.40-1.50, L =9.6-9.9, B =6.6-7.1 µm, in face view broadly ellipsoid, sometimes with slightly flattened side, but often somewhat irregularly shaped, dark red-brown, with central germ pore and somewhat attenuate apex. Basidia 15-32 x 7-9 µm, 2-spored, surrounded by 3-5 pseudoparaphyses. Cheilo- and pleurocystidia absent but here and there sterile elements (probably somewhat enlarged basidioles) projecting from lamellae and sometimes velar remnants sticking to lamellar edge. Velar elements up to 50 µm in diam., (sub)globose. Clamp-connections present.

Habitat & distribution

  Mostly in small groups, more rarely in bundles of up to 40 specimens, but sometimes also solitary. On bare soil or at grassy-mossy places, usually under shrubs or trees, but also in lawns. Not rare in the Netherlands.

Remarks

  Coprinus bellulus is easily distinguished from the other members of the C. cortinatus group by the 2-spored basidia, lacking pleuro- and cheilocystidia, and the somewhat irregular, broadly ellipsoid spores.