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Coprinus niveus

 
Coprinus niveus is a rather fragile ink cap with a chalky coating (velar remains) on the caps and stems of young specimens. Initially white, the gills autodigest as the fruit body ages.

Identification guide

Cap

As in the immature specimen illustrated here, the cap is initially egg-shaped, like many of the Coprinus species. Later it expands to become bell shaped, sometimes opening out like an umbrella and occasionally splitting at the margin. 

A distinctive white, mealy covering of tiny veil fragments adheres to the cap, which is 2 to 5 cm in diameter at maturity.

Gills

The gills are initially white, becoming grey and eventually black as they begin deliquescing (turning into a black inky liquid).

Stipe

4 to 7 mm diameter and up to 9 cm tall, the stems are white with a slight thickening at the base, which is covered in cottony fibres.

Spore print

Black.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

On cow dung, horse dung and manured rotting straw.

Season

May to November.

Occurrence

Fairly common.

Similar species

  1. Coprinus atramentarius is larger and lacks the white granular cap covering.
  2. Coprinus micaceus has a granular cap but is reddish-brown and grows on buried wood and at the base of tree stumps.
First Nature Multimedia Guide to Fungi
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