(37 votes, average: 3.81 out of 5)
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Woodland Inkcap
Inedible 
Autumn 
An ephemeral mushroom that can grow in very large clusters but soon melts to a thick, black, ink like liquid.
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Woodland Inkcap (EN), Czernidłak Szorstkozarodnikowy (PL), Erdei Tintagomba (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Coprinellus silvaticus |
| Synonyms | Coprinus silvaticus |
| Season Start | Sep |
| Season End | Nov |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 4-6 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 2-3 |
Cap
2-3 cm. Grooved and starting a pale buff, becoming orange/brown with a dark area at the peak of the cap. When fully mature this will split and deliquesce (melt) into a black ink like liquid.
Gills
The gills are very crowded and free of the stem. They start white, changing to grey/brown until becoming black and deliquescing.
Stem
4-6 cm long, 0.2-0.4 cm diameter. White and smooth looking but with very close inspection is slightly hairy. It is brittle and can split easily.
Flesh
Thin and fragile.
Habitat
On soil above buried wood.
Possible Confusion
The Glistening Inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), pictured, looks very similar but has tiny mica crystals ‘glistening’ on the cap and they usually, but not always, grow in smaller groups.
Spore Print
Very dark brown/black. Almond shaped.
Frequency
Not Common.
4 comments for Woodland Inkcap
What happens iff you do eat these ?
Probably not very much but you may feel a little unwell. It is possible that drinking alcohol and eating them can cause vomiting but they are best avoided. Look for some tastier, edible mushrooms instead.
can anyone advise how to get rid of these please, i have them growing in my garden near two tree stumps, im concerned about my dog getting them
Hi Rachel,
Co-existing with fungi means NO threat at all. Just train your dog to do not eat random things without your permission, and it will be all right. These mushrooms aren’t toxic anyway…