Shaggy Ink Cap
ExploreFungi
Shaggy Ink Cap
Coprinus
The Shaggy Ink Cap looks like a little wizard's hat! It can change color and makes a black ink when it grows.
Habitat: In lawns and grassy areas
Appearance
The Shaggy Ink Cap is a tall, white mushroom with an elongated, shaggy cap covered in flaky scales. It starts out egg-shaped but soon bells out, darkening and dissolving into a black liquid 'ink' from the bottom edge upwards, which is visually distinct.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderAgaricalesFamilyAgaricaceaeGenusCoprinus
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its 'ink' was once used to write letters and even sign important documents!
The cap digests itself so fast that you must cook it within hours of picking!
They often grow in groups, appearing like a small, white mushroom army.
This mushroom prefers disturbed areas where the ground has been recently changed.
Special abilities
Ability
Self-Liquefaction
Shaggy Ink Cap can melt into a dark liquid because of special enzymes that help them release their spores into the environment.
Ability
Rapid Growth
Shaggy Ink Cap has an ability to grow very quickly, sometimes appearing overnight, that helps them colonize new areas before competitors.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-20 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 3-10 cm
- Growth Substrate
- soil
- Season
- Spring to Fall
- Spore Color
- Black
Ecological connections
eaten by
Black slug
Arion ater
Slugs often graze on its young, tender caps.
eaten by
Fungus Gnat
Sciara analis
Its larvae burrow into and feed on the mushroom.
eats
Perennial Ryegrass
Lolium perenne
It breaks down dead grass roots in lawns and fields.
Traits
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Also known as
Lawyer's WigShaggy Mane
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Shaggy Ink Cap?
5-20 cm
Is Shaggy Ink Cap edible?
edible
How big is Shaggy Ink Cap?
3-10 cm
Where is Shaggy Ink Cap usually found?
In lawns and grassy areas
What does Shaggy Ink Cap grow on?
soil
When is Shaggy Ink Cap in season?
Spring to Fall
What color are Shaggy Ink Cap spores?
Black
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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