Shaggy Inkcap

Habitat

This common decomposer is most frequently found in areas of human activity and recently disturbed soil. It prefers grassy areas such as lawns and pastures, as well as roadsides, path edges, gravel parking lots, and garden beds. It also frequently grows in wood chips, mulch, and compost heaps. While most common in urban and suburban environments, it is occasionally found in open forests. It typically fruits in groups, dense troops, or fairy rings.

Photos

Appearance

Cap

5–15 cm high; initially egg-shaped or cylindrical, expanding to conical or bell-shaped with an upturned, ragged margin. The surface is white with a tan or brownish center, covered in coarse, shaggy, brownish-tipped scales that do not easily brush off. The edges eventually dissolve into a black, inky liquid.

Stem

10–40 cm long, 1–2.5 cm thick; tall, white, and cylindrical with a slightly bulbous or rooting base. It is hollow and contains a distinct, string-like fiber running through the center.

Gills

Free from the stem and extremely crowded. They start white, change to pink or vinaceous, then turn black and liquefy (deliquesce) from the bottom edge upward.

Flesh

Thin, soft, and white with a stringy texture. It has a faint, pleasant smell and a mild taste.

Ring

White, thin, and membranous; it is loose and often slides down the stem to rest near the base or falls off entirely.

Spore print

Blackish-brown to sooty black.

Edibility

Gather this mushroom when young while the gills are still white; once the gills turn pink or black and begin to liquefy, it is past its prime, though the resulting black ink is sometimes used as a food colorant. Because it is a known bioaccumulator of heavy metals and pesticides, specimens should only be collected from areas free of pollutants. To prevent the mushroom from quickly dissolving after harvest, cook it the same day or store it in salt water and refrigerate. While unique in appearance, it should be distinguished from Coprinopsis atramentaria, which has a smoother gray cap and causes illness when consumed with alcohol.

Nutrient Source

This species obtains nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter, such as grass and decaying plant material, in soil and leaf litter.

Common Names

Basque

urbeltz, urbeltz galparduna, urbeltz galpardun

Catalan

pixacà barbut, pixac barbut, bolet de tinta

Danish

Stor parykhat

Dutch

Geschubde inktzwam

English

Shaggy Ink Cap, Shaggy Ink-Cap, Lawyer's Wig, Shaggy Inkcap, Shaggy Mane

Finnish

suomumustesieni

French

Coprin chevelu

German

Schopftintling

Norwegian Bokmål

matblekksopp

Norwegian Nynorsk

matblekksopp

Spanish

Barbuda, matacandil, coprino barbudo, apagador

Swedish

Fjällig Bläcksvamp

Welsh

Cap Inc Aflêr

Synonyms

• Agaricus comatus
• Agaricus comatus
• Agaricus cylindricus
• Agaricus cylindricus
• Agaricus fimetarius
• Agaricus ovatus
• Agaricus ovatus
• Coprinus clavatus
• Coprinus comatus
• Coprinus ovatus
• Oncopus comatus
• Pselliophora comata
• Pselliophora ovata