Coprinus auricoma

Parasola auricoma growing in woodchip mulch

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family:Psathyrellaceae

Parasola (formerly Coprinus) auricoma is a short-lived delicate member of the inkcap group of fungi, and it is easily confused with the Pleated Inkcap (also referred to as the Little Japanese Parasol), Parasola plicatilis.

Parasola auricoma is an inkcap of woodland habitats, where it grows among leaf litter; however, in urban locations and in formalparks and gardens this swarthy little mushroom is now particularly common in flowerbeds covered in woodchip mulch.

Note: The Picture shown above is Parasola plicatilis. It will be replaced

Identification guide

Cap

The cap of Parasola auricoma has a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5cm, is heavily ribbed, and initially egg-shaped, then convex and finally flat. A distinctive tawny central 'eye' contrasts with the rest of the brown cap.

This species is distinguished from the typically smaller but otherwise very similar Parasola plicatilis by its darker cap colour and minute hairs on the central region of its cap.

Gills

The white gills turn grey and then black; they are free of the stem, and they are thin and quite well spaced.

Unlike most ink caps, this delicate little fungus has a cap that flattens and then shrivels rather than its gills deliquescing (turning to a black inky liquid).

Stem

4 to 7cm long, but only 4 or 5mm diameter and very fragile; faintly fibrilose; white or dingy cream.

Spore print

Black.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

In woodland leaf litter and increasingly on woodchip mulch.

Season

May to November.

Occurrence

Frequent.

Similar species

Parasola kuehneri is more orange-brown but otherwise very similar in macroscopic appearance; it is found mainly on woodland edges.

Parasola plicatilis is paler, somewhat smaller and does not have hairs in the centre of its cap; it is a grassland inkcap.