Species details
Magpie inkcap
Coprinopsis picacea
Inedible
Photo: Karim Haddad · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A large dark inkcap with conspicuous white patches on the cap; it rapidly deliquesces, is inedible and is on the Slovenian Red List.
Identification features
The cap starts egg-shaped, later bell-shaped, sooty brown to almost black, with large white veil patches. Gills change from white to pink and then black.
Identification checklist
The key features are the almost black cap, large white patches and rapid blackening/deliquescence of the gills.
Detailed features
- Cap
- The cap starts egg-shaped, later bell-shaped, sooty brown to almost black, with large white veil patches.
- Hymenophore
- The gills change from white through pink to black.
Habitat
Grows in shady deciduous and coniferous woods among leaf litter, singly or in groups, in late summer and autumn.
Fruiting period
August, September, October
Ecology
- Notes
- Grows in shady deciduous and coniferous woods among leaf litter, singly or in groups, in late summer and autumn.
How to separate similar species
The shaggy inkcap is mostly white and has a differently scaled cap. The magpie inkcap is distinctive because of its strong contrast.
Similar species
Conservation
- Red list
- R – rare species
- Notes
- On the Slovenian Red List: R – rare species.