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Inkcap

Coprinopsis sp.

1 Species ID Suggestions

JimCornish
JimCornish 12 years ago
Shaggy mane or lawyers wig
Coprinus comatus Coprinus comatus


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1 Comment

JimCornish
JimCornish 12 years ago

The shape of the cap and the closeness of the gills prevents this mushroom from depositing its spore like most gilled mushrooms. It uses a process called autolysis or autodigestion. Beginning at the tips, the cap slowly turns into a black inky goo (hence their common name inky caps) which open the gills wide enough for the spores to fall out. That ink was once used for writing ink.

Colorado

Spotted on Sep 5, 2009
Submitted on Sep 15, 2011

Spotted for Mission

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