Hare's foot inkcap

Description:

The fruit body size of Coprinopsis lagopus can vary tremendously. This fungus gives rise to dwarf fruit-bodies, some of which are less than one-hundredth the size of the larger ones. The great variation in size has led some authors to erroneously name the dwarf fruit-bodies as new species. In general, dwarf fruit-bodies have stem lengths from 1–10 mm tall and cap of 0.75–3 mm in diameter, while large specimens have stems that are 130–185 mm tall and cap diameters of 25–40 mm. The thickness of the stem in the larger specimens is typically 4–6 mm thick, up to 0.8 mm thick at the club-shaped or bulbous base. The color of the cap surface is pale to very dark-brown at center beneath the whitish to silvery grey veil, but becomes paler towards the margin. As the mushroom matures, the shape of the cap becomes more conical or convex, and finally flattens out, with edges curved upward. The veil is initially whitish, then turns to a silvery grey or grey-brown; it eventually splits up, becoming hairy. The gills are freely attached to the stem, very thin and crowded closely together. Initially the color of the gills is white, then progresses to grayish brown then to black as the spores mature. In maturity the gill edges dissolve into a black liquid. These mushrooms are evanescent, lasting only last a few hours before death; the autodigestive process is enhanced in humid environments. The stem is whitish in color, and is hollow, hairy over the whole surface but especially at lower part, and becomes smooth with age. The spore print is violet-black.

Habitat:

Coprinopsis lagopus grows solitary or in groups on wood chips, compost heaps, vegetable refuse, or horse dung, from autumn to mid-winter. It has a widespread distribution throughout the world.

Notes:

Spotted in Landgoed Hunderen in rural area of Twello, Holland. (sources:see reference)