Coprinus micaceus - Glistening Inkcap

Coprinellus micaceus - Glistening Inkcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

From tree stumps or buried wood of broadleaf deciduous trees, Coprinus micaceus, formerly given the common name Mica Inkcap, arises in small to medium-sized clumps from spring until early winter. It is a potentially poisonous fungus.

Note: inkcap is sometimes written as ink-cap or ink cap, and in the USA the terms inky cap or inky-cap are used.

Identification guide

Cap	Covered at first in tiny white granules - the remains of the veil - these egg-shaped caps become bell shaped and lose their mica-like grains as they age. The caps are typically 2 to 4cm tall and of similar diameter when they open out. The cap colour is ochre-brown, with a russet central 'eye', and turns grey-brown as it ages.
Gills	The gills are white, turning purple-brown and then blackening before deliquescing (autodigesting and becoming a black inky fluid).
Stem	The white stem is brown at the base, typically 2 to 5mm in diameter and up to 10cm tall.
Spore print	Black.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	On or beside broad-leaved tree stumps and dead roots.
Season	May to November.
Occurrence	Very common.
Similar species	Coprinellus disseminatus also appears in large groups but does not have mica-like granules.