Common Inkcap

Distribution

Frequent in Britain and Ireland and throughout Europe and North America, the Common Inkcap usually appears in clusters but occasionally as solitary specimens.
From tree stumps or buried wood of deciduous hardwood trees, Coprinopsis atramentaria, the Common Inkcap, arises in small clumps from spring until early winter.

Description

At first egg-shaped and mostly smooth with just a small central area covered in small flattened scales; without veil fragments, the cap of Coprinus atramentaria later expands to become bell-shaped with a slight umbo before deliquescing from the margin. Grey or grey-brown before turning black, caps attain a diameter of 3 to 7cm.

Toxicity

The Common Inkcap is poisonous when consumed in conjunction with alcohol, and the effects are sometimes severe. It is therefore unwise and can be dangerous to eat these inkcap mushrooms if alcohol has been consumed during the three days before a meal or is likely to be consumed at any time during the three days afterwards.