Coprinus comatus

Names

Scientific name: Coprinus comatus

English names: Shaggy Inkcap, Shaggy Mane, Lawyer’s Wig

Description

Coprinus comatus is a commonly seen fungus often growing in larger groups in lawns, gardens and parks. The genus name ‘Coprinus’ actually means ‘living on dung’ but C. comatus usually grows directly on soil. It is a saprotrophic fungus living from decomposing organic matter, which may include dung. One common feature shared by Coprinus species is that they ‘autodigest’. That is, they dissolve their own tissue when mature thereby turning the fruit body into black ink – a feature which gave the species its common name ‘ink caps’. In days gone past, the black ‘ink’ was actually used as ink for writing. Coprinus species have gills which are very close to one another which would normally restrict spore release. It is thought that the self-digesting process together with sequential spore maturation from the bottom to the top of the cap has developed to enhance spore release.

Shaggy Inkcap, as it is commonly known throughout the UK, has a tall white, shaggy or scaly, ovoid cap when young (being 5- 20 cm high and 2-6 cm wide), which expands with age to a more cylindrical shape. The margins of the cap decompose with age until the whole cap has been liquefied into black ink. This relatively large fungus possesses a fleshier fruit body compared to other Coprinus species. The stem varies between 10 – 35 cm in height and 1-2 cm in width being hollow and slightly widened at the base. A common feature of Shaggy Inkcap is a distinctive ring at the mid-point of stem.

Coprinus comatus can be picked when still young and fresh and is edible (very good with scrambled egg – Andy Taylor). It is recommended to pick them during the early part of the day and to process them fairly quickly afterwards, which is why it is also known as ‘breakfast mushroom’. Aged fruit bodies should be left as they turn into an inedible sticky mess. The fungus is known for its high vitamin C content as well as other vitamins and minerals (such as calcium and magnesium). In fact, C. comatus is used in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent haemorrhoids and to aid digestion. It has also been shown to lower the blood sugar levels and has therefore been used to partly treat diabetes type I and type II.

Despite its rather noticeable appearance, C. comatus could be mistaken for Magpie Inkcap, Coprinopsis picacea when young – a fungus that is covered in white scales when young but which become distinct patches on a dark brown background when the cap expands. Another mushroom near to Shaggy Inkcap is the Common Inkcap Coprinopsis atramentarius. This is also known as the Alcohol Inkcap. This fungus is best left uneaten as it contains coprine- a compound which causes nausea and accelerated heart beat when ingested in combination with alcohol. Although this fungus can be easily distinguished from C. comatus by its non-scaly grey-brown cap, it is still best to be aware of this species to prevent possible intoxication.

Old Coprinus comatus fruitbody beginning to autodigest and turn into a black inky liquid.