# Mica Cap (*coprinellus micaceus*) The Mica Cap mushroom looks like a little umbrella with a shiny, glittery top! Kids will love discovering this fun fungus in damp, shady spots in the forest. - **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Mica Caps typically grow in forests, especially in damp, shady areas on decaying wood. - **Also known as:** Glitter Cap, Shiny Cap, Sparkling Mushroom ![Mica Cap](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2026-03-04_Z5-1520_Achim-Lammerts_Coprinellus-micaceus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Achim Lammerts (Syntaxys), CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2026-03-04_Z5-1520_Achim-Lammerts_Coprinellus-micaceus.jpg) ## Appearance The Mica Cap has a fragile, bell-shaped cap, often yellowish-brown, that is covered in tiny, glistening mica-like scales. Its distinctive sparkling surface and pale, grooved cap make it visually different from many other small urban mushrooms. As it matures, the cap edges often turn upward. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Fungi - **Phylum:** Basidiomycota - **Class:** Agaricomycetes - **Order:** Agaricales - **Family:** Psathyrellaceae - **Genus:** Coprinellus ## Interesting facts - Their caps sparkle like they are covered in tiny sugar crystals when fresh! - These mushrooms melt into black ink to release their spores, disappearing almost overnight! - They grow incredibly fast after a rain, often appearing in just a few hours! - You can often spot Mica Caps growing in surprising places, even cracking through city sidewalks! ## Special abilities - **Melting Magic:** Mica Cap can dissolve its own cap into an inky liquid because of special enzymes that help release spores efficiently. - **Wood Recycler:** Mica Cap can break down dead wood and plant material because of powerful enzymes that help return nutrients to the soil. - **Crowd Grower:** Mica Cap can grow in huge clusters because of its ability to thrive on abundant resources, helping it spread spores widely. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2-10 cm - **Edible:** edible - **Size:** 0.5-3.5 cm - **Growth Substrate:** wood - **Season:** Spring to Fall - **Spore Color:** Dark brown to black ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — decomposes its fallen wood - **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — slugs often graze on its caps - **Eats:** [Silver Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-birch) (*Betula pendula*) — breaks down its dead branches ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mica Cap? Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Mica Cap? 2-10 cm ### Is Mica Cap edible? edible ### How big is Mica Cap? 0.5-3.5 cm ### Where is Mica Cap usually found? Mica Caps typically grow in forests, especially in damp, shady areas on decaying wood. ### What does Mica Cap grow on? wood ### When is Mica Cap in season? Spring to Fall ### What color are Mica Cap spores? Dark brown to black ## Where to spot - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-park) — South Dakota, US · Park - [Grand Circus Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-circus-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Greektown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greektown) — Michigan, US · Neighborhood - [Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/historic-moravian-bethlehem-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District [View all places to see Mica Cap](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mica-cap) ## More Fungi - [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*) --- Source: [Mica Cap: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mica-cap)