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Glistening Inkcaps - Coprinus micaceus

Glistening inkcaps are my favourite winter mushrooms.
When it seems cold, dark and wet every day, a glistening inkcap poking out of a log is sure to cheer you up. They are light and shimmery, like something magical. Even though I have so many pictures of them, I always stop to take more whenever I see them, because they truly brighten my day.

A cluster on a log

Members of the Coprinus family - also known as Inkcaps - are quite different from other species, because most of them "auto-digest". This means that towards the end of their life, their caps roll upwards, turning into an inky-black liquid, hence the name. 

Inkcaps were the first family I was able to identify quickly, as they are rather unique and therefore difficult to confuse with other genera. It is possible, however, to confuse mushrooms within the genus, so as always it's best to go about identifying with an open mind and above all, caution.


The gills are turning black, indicating the auto-digestion process

Glistening inkcaps are saprotrophic, meaning they help to break down decaying matter. I have found these shimmering shrooms in multiple locations, including on dead logs, stumps, on buried wood and around trees. They are usually in large groups so are easy to spot! 

Their caps are covered in what looks like a glittery dust, especially in younger species. This is actually the remains of a veil, and is sometimes washed away by the rain. The centre of the cap tends to be darker than the outer, and there are grooves covering it.

A cluster under a tree
Hiding behind a log














Characteristics

Habitat: On or around dead or decaying wood
Cap: 1-4cm high, 1-2cm wide. Pale tan/orange colour; darker in the centre. Covered with glittery powder.
Stem: White
Gills: White, then brown, finally black. Free (not attached to the stem)
Spore print: Black
Season: Late spring to early winter
Edibility: Edible (but apparently not very tasty)

Glistening inkcaps have a black spore print


You may have to look carefully to find them, but the glistening inkcaps are sure to brighten up even the most terrible of days! 

I hope you stumble across a cluster of these magical glitter-shrooms in the near future!

Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Never eat a mushroom you've found without confirmation that it is edible by an expert.
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