Shaggy Inkcaps (Coprinus comatus) Identification

Shaggy  Inkcap / Autumn / Edible

Scientific name

Coprinus comatus

Family

Agaricaceae

Habitat

Grassland, lawns, verges often in large numbers

Description

Magpie inkcaps are bell shaped white floccose mushrooms with a long white stem.

Identifying features:

Cap: 

White cap with white fibrils, starting off egg shaped,  becoming long bell shaped. The cap can reach upto 7cm, at maturity the cap will start to deliquescing (liquifying into its spore mass) Some times gets called a lawyers wig because of the curled fibrils. 

Stem:

Tall white stem which has a tight ring, it is bulbous at the base.

Gills

Adnate or free gills which are white, turning reddish pink to grey then black as they deliques

Smell:

Very faint mushroomy

Spores:

Black

Uses

Edible but can also be used as an ink for writing or vegan squid ink alternative 

In Food

This mushroom has a short shelf life once picked it can start to become black liquid within 24hrs. Young specimens are excellent fried.

Known Hazards

none

Potential lookalikes 

Magpie inkcap, common inkcap