Synonyme: Agaricus cylindricus; Agaricus comatus; Agaricus vaillantii.
English: Shaggy ink cap; Lawyer's wig; Shaggy mane.
German: Schopf-Tintling; Spargelpilz; Porzellantintling; Tintenpilz; Tintenschopfling.
Region: northern Hemisphere, Europe.
Habitat: lawns, along gravel roads, waste areas.
Use: excellent edible when young and fresh, in China; care for confusion with the poisonous magpie or the 'vomiter' mushroom
Chlorophyllum molybdites.
MycologyCoprinus comatus is a saprotrophic fungus. This mushroom is unusual because it will turn black and dissolve itself in a matter of hours after being picked or depositing spores. The young fruit bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out. The gills are white, then pink, then turn black and secrete a black liquid filled with spores. they are on hymenium. The cap is conical, white, covered with scales. The hymenium is free. The stipe has a ring. The spore print is black.