''Coprinus comatus'', the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a common

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas. The young

fruit bodies The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...

first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped

caps Caps are flat headgear. Caps or CAPS may also refer to: Science and technology Computing * CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters * Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Java ...

open out. The caps are white, and covered with scales—this is the origin of the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s of the fungus. The

gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

s beneath the cap are white, then pink, then turn black and deliquesce ('melt') into a black liquid filled with

spores In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

(hence the "ink cap" name). This mushroom is unusual because it will turn black and dissolve itself in a matter of hours after being picked or depositing spores. When young it is an excellent

edible mushroom Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruit bodies of several species of macrofungi (fungi which bear fruiting structures that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye). They can appear either below ground (hypogeous) or above ground ...

provided that it is eaten soon after being collected (it keeps very badly because of the autodigestion of its gills and cap). If long-term storage is desired, microwaving, sauteing or simmering until limp will allow the mushrooms to be stored in a refrigerator for several days or frozen. Also, placing the mushrooms in a glass of ice water will delay the decomposition for a day or two so that one has time to incorporate them into a meal. Processing or icing must be done whether for eating or storage within four to six hours of harvest to prevent undesirable changes to the mushroom. The species is cultivated in China as food.

Taxonomy

The shaggy ink cap was first described by Danish naturalist

Otto Friedrich Müller Otto Friedrich Müller, also known as Otto Friedrich Mueller (2 November 1730 – 26 December 1784) was a Danish naturalist and scientific illustrator. Biography Müller was born in Copenhagen. He was educated for the church, became tutor to a yo ...

in 1780 as ''Agaricus comatus'', before being given its current binomial name in 1797 by

Christiaan Hendrik Persoon Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a German mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy. Early life Persoon was born in South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, the third child of an immig ...

. Its specific name derives from ''coma'', or "hair", hence ''comatus'', "hairy" or "shaggy". Other common names include lawyer's wig, and shaggy mane. ''Coprinus comatus'' is the type species for the genus ''

Coprinus ''Coprinus'' is a small genus of mushroom-forming fungi consisting of '' Coprinus comatus''the shaggy ink cap (British) or shaggy mane (American)and several of its close relatives. Until 2001, ''Coprinus'' was a large genus consisting of all aga ...

''. This genus was formerly considered to be a large one with well over 100 species. However, molecular analysis of DNA sequences showed that the former species belonged in two families, the

Agaricaceae The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and include the genus ''Agaricus'', as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. Taxonomy The family Agaricaceae was publishe ...

and the

Psathyrellaceae The Psathyrellaceae are a family of dark-spored agarics that generally have rather soft, fragile fruiting bodies, and are characterized by black, dark brown, rarely reddish, or even pastel-colored spore prints. About 50% of species produce fruit ...

. ''Coprinus comatus'' is the best known of the true ''Coprinus''.

Description

The shaggy ink cap is easily recognizable from its almost cylindrical cap which initially covers most of its stem. The cap ranges from in width and in height. It is mostly white with shaggy scales, which are more pale brown at the apex. The free gills change rapidly from white to pink, then to black. It is

deliquescent Hygroscopy is the phenomenon of attracting and holding water molecules via either absorption or adsorption from the surrounding environment, which is usually at normal or room temperature. If water molecules become suspended among the substance ...

. The white and fairly thick stipe measures high by in diameter and has a loose ring near the bottom. Microscopically, the mushroom lacks

pleurocystidia A cystidium (plural cystidia) is a relatively large cell found on the sporocarp of a basidiomycete (for example, on the surface of a mushroom gill), often between clusters of basidia. Since cystidia have highly varied and distinct shapes that ar ...

. The

spore print 300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. A 3.5-centimeter ...

is black-brown and the spores measure 10–13 by 6.5–8 µm. The flesh is white and the taste mild.

Similar species

The mushroom can sometimes be confused with the magpie fungus which is poisonous. In America, the 'vomiter' mushroom ''

Chlorophyllum molybdites ''Chlorophyllum molybdites,'' which has the common names of false parasol, green-spored Lepiota and vomiter, is a widespread mushroom. Poisonous and producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, it is commonly conflated wi ...

'' is responsible for most cases of mushroom poisoning due to its similarity with shaggy mane and other edible mushrooms.Beug, Michael W
An Overview of Mushroom Poisonings in North America.
''The Mycophile'', vol. 45(2):4-5, March/April 2004 ''

Coprinopsis atramentaria ''Coprinopsis atramentaria'', commonly known as the common ink cap or inky cap, is an edible (although poisonous when combined with alcohol) mushroom found in Europe and North America. Previously known as ''Coprinus atramentarius'', it is th ...

'' (the common Ink Cap) is similar, and contains

coprine Coprine is a mycotoxin. It was first isolated from Coprinopsis atramentaria, common inkcap (''Coprinopsis atramentaria''). It occurs in mushrooms in the genera ''Coprinopsis'' When combined with ethanol, alcohol, it causes "Coprinus syndrome". It ...

and can induce coprine poisoning, particularly when consumed with alcohol. ''

Podaxis pistillaris ''Podaxis pistillaris'' is a very distinctive relative of the puffballs. It is commonly known as the desert shaggy mane as it bears a resemblance to the shaggy mane, ''Coprinus comatus'', however it does not possess deliquescing gills and the si ...

'' is also similar.

Distribution, habitat and ecology

It grows in groups in places which are often unexpected, such as green areas in towns. It occurs widely in grasslands and meadows in Europe and North America, from June through to November in the UK. It appears to have been introduced to Australia, New Zealand and Iceland. In Australia the species is sufficiently common to have been featured on a

postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the fa ...

issued by

Australia Post Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is the government business enterprise that provides postal services in Australia. The head office of Australia Post is located in Bourke Street, Melbourne, which also serves as a post o ...

in 1981. ''Coprinus comatus'' is a

nematophagous fungus Nematophagous fungi are carnivorous fungi specialized in trapping and digesting nematodes. Around 160 species are known. There exist both species that live inside the nematodes from the beginning and others that catch them, mostly with glue tra ...

capable of killing and digesting the

nematode The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhab ...

species ''

Panagrellus redivivus The free-living nematode ''Panagrellus redivivus'' (sour paste nematode, or beer mat nematode from its occurrence in constantly moist felt beer mats), is known to many aquarium enthusiasts and fish keepers as the microworm. It is a tiny roundwor ...

'' and ''

Meloidogyne arenaria ''Meloidogyne arenaria'' is a species of plant pathogenic nematodes. This nematode is also known as the ''peanut root knot nematode''. The word "''Meloidogyne''" is derived from two Greek words that mean "apple-shaped" and "female".Howard Ferris ...

''.

Edibility

The young mushrooms, before the gills start to turn black, are a choice

, but should be prepared soon after being collected as the black areas quickly turn bitter. The taste is mild; cooking produces a large quantity of liquid. It can sometimes be used in mushroom soup with

parasol mushroom ''Macrolepiota procera'', the parasol mushroom, is a basidiomycete fungus with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a parasol. It is a fairly common species on well-drained soils. It is found solitary or in groups and fairy rings in pas ...

. Large quantities of microwaved-then-frozen shaggy manes can be used as the liquid component of

risotto Risotto (, , from meaning "rice") is a northern Italian rice dish cooked with broth until it reaches a creamy consistency. The broth can be derived from meat, fish, or vegetables. Many types of risotto contain butter, onion, white wine, and Par ...

, replacing the usual chicken stock. ''Coprinus comatus'' is not to be confused with ''

'', which can induce coprine poisoning, particularly when consumed with alcohol. Symptoms of coprine poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, palpitations and a metallic taste in the mouth.Collins, How to Identify Edible Mushrooms by Harding, Lyon & Tomblin

Gallery

File:Coprinus comatus G4.JPG, Young Coprinus comatus File:Coprinus comatus (30053094063).jpg, Cross section of young mushroom File:Tintlinge 5145.jpg, Old and young individuals File:Coprinus comatus-3 hg.jpg, Late stage deliquescence of Coprinus comatus mushrooms File:Coprinus comatus spores.jpg, Coprinus comatus spores

References

Much of the above article was translated from the French page and Dutch pages.

External links

Fungus of the Month for May 2004: ''Coprinus comatus'', the shaggy mane
by Tom Volk, ''TomVolkFungi.net''.

by Michael Kuo, ''MushroomExpert.com'', September, 2001.

''MykoWeb.com''.

by Louise Freedman, ''MykoWeb.com''. * {{Taxonbar, from=Q275125 Agaricaceae Fungi described in 1780 Fungi of Europe Fungi of New Zealand Edible fungi Carnivorous fungi Fungal pest control agents Fungi of Iceland