Common Inkcap - Coprinopsis atramentaria

Spring is finally upon us, and whilst greenery is emerging and bright flowers are peeping through the cracks that winter has left, things are still somewhat quiet in the fungal world. With the main mushroom season being late summer and autumn, there is a way to go before we can see mushrooms at every corner.

However, as the weather is beginning to warm, there are a few species that are starting to emerge. One such mushroom is the Common Inkcap, or Coprinopsis atramentaria.

Common Inkcaps have a long season, beginning to appear in spring and continuing to fruit until the end of autumn. Like the majority of their Inkcap cousins, their caps expand outwards, eventually becoming an inky liquid.

They tend to form in groups and grow on buried wood. Most of the ones I've found have been under trees in grassy areas, such as parks or fields. I like to think their caps look like arrows pointing out of the soil.

Characteristics

Habitat: On buried wood, usually near or under trees, also on stumps or in grassy areas
Cap: 3-7cm high. Greyish-white, sometimes with brown centre, scales near the centre. Ovate then broadly conical
Stem: 5-12cm tall. Smooth and whitish
Gills: Free, crowded. First white, turning black as they deliquesce
Spore print: Black
Season: Spring to late autumn
Edibility: Poisonous when eaten with alcohol. Sources give varying opinions on its edibility without alcohol.

Apparently these mushrooms can be used to make writing ink, by boiling their ink with water and cloves. Maybe I will give it a try sometime!

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

Comments

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Lately I've been seeing mushrooms pop up all over the place, which of course excites the little nerd inside of me. Unfortunately, most of the time when I've seen a cluster of mushrooms, I've been on the bus and, being as awful at directions as I am, I can never remember where I saw them. Such is life. Today I spotted a couple peeking out from the grass not far from where I found the Milky Conecaps last month. In fact, at first glance I thought that's what they might be. However, it was the afternoon and we hadn't had any rain since yesterday, plus their caps weren't quite long enough. I like to describe Milky Conecaps as looking like almost-closed umbrellas. Instead, these mushrooms looked like tiny hats. So I snapped some pictures, put one in my bag and went on my way. Although they turned out not to be Milky Conecaps, they are still somewhat closely related. These small buddies are called Common Conecaps , or Conocybe tenera. They enjoy simil...

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