Inky Caps - from "Basic Inky Cap ID for California"
"Out of the millions of different kinds of fungi out there, I think that inky caps are the coolest by far. They are called inky caps because they dissolve into black ink when they get old. They are also often misidentified, so I put together a list of the common inky caps and their differences."
by Peter Vahlberg
Coprinopsis lagopus gr. Photo by Terry Way
Editors note: FFSC member Peter Vahlberg posted "Basic Inky Cap ID for California" on iNaturalist in 2020, and FFSC previously reprinted a copy on this website. Going forward, you can read Peter's original article on iNaturalist instead, for the latest comments and updates.
In the meantime, enjoy these quick links to the inky cap species that Peter describes in his article:
The genus Coprinus includes the edible shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus) and a close look-alike, Coprinus calyptratus.
The Coprinopsis group includes Coprinopsis lagopus and Coprinopsis atramentaria.
Coprinellus includes Coprinellus micaceus (the mica cap) and Coprinellus flocculosus.
An unnamed species in California looks similar to C. micaceus, but Peter believes it is Coprinellus radians.
Coprinellus disseminatus does not turn inky.
The genus Parasola are hard to ID without a microscope.
Parasola auricoma is easier to identify, along with Parasola conopilus (which looks like Psathyrella corrugis).
More inky caps exist, but can be hard to identify without a microscope.
Mushrooms covered:
- Coprinellus disseminatus (fairy inkcap)
- Coprinellus flocculosus (flocculose inkcap, woolly inkcap)
- Coprinellus micaceus grp. (mica cap)
- Coprinellus radians (orange-mat coprinus)
- Coprinopsis atramentaria (common ink cap, inky cap)
- Coprinopsis lagopus (hare's foot inkcap, harefoot mushroom, rabbit's foot inky cap)
- Coprinopsis sp. (inky cap)
- Coprinus calyptratus (star-capped coprinus)
- Coprinus comatus
- Coprinus sp. (inky caps)
- Parasola auricoma (goldenhaired inkcap)
- Parasola conopilus (pleated inkcap)