Glistening Inkcap
The powdery ‘mica’ covering can be seen shining when the sun is out but this mushroom has little nutritional value so is best left alone or added to other mushrooms in a dish.
Mushroom Type | |
Common Names | Glistening Inkcap (EN), Mica Cap (US), Cap Inc Gloyw (CY), Czernidłak Błyszczący (PL), Kerti Tintagomba (HU) |
Scientific Name | Coprinellus micaceus |
Synonyms | Coprinus micaceus |
Season Start | Mar |
Season End | Dec |
Average Mushroom height (CM) | 4-6 |
Average Cap width (CM) | 2-3 |
Cap
2-3 cm. Orange/brown, ochraceous becoming a bit darker towards the centre. Initially bell-shaped becoming furrowed and then splitting. Has grooves running from the top of the cap to the edge and a covering of white powdery ‘mica’ which can wash off in the rain. The cap deliquesces or melts to a black liquid soon after maturity.
Possible Confusion
It can look like Woodland Inkcap (Coprinellus silvaticus), pictured, after the rain has washed off the powdery ‘mica’. Coprinellus silvaticus is inedible so only mushrooms with the ‘mica’ covering should be eaten.
Spore Print
Date brown. Mitriform.
Taste / Smell
Mildly mushroomy, not really worth while unless mixing in with other mushrooms.
Frequency
Common.
1 comment for Glistening Inkcap
I have found mushrooms that look similar to this. The stems are white and hollow, but they bruis pink. The caps are bell shaped with a nippel , and pink but darker twords the center. The gills are pink but turn gray. I am doing a spore print now.