The Glistening Inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus) is named for the tiny white granules that sparkle on its young cap like flakes of mica, though they soon wash off. The cap is egg-shaped at first, opening to a bell, yellowish-brown to orange-brown with a grooved edge, and fades to grey as it expands. The crowded gills are whitish at first, then blacken and dissolve into an inky liquid as the spores ripen.
It grows in dense clusters on stumps, logs and buried wood, from April into November, and is widespread and very common.
The Fairy Inkcap (Coprinellus disseminatus) is much smaller, grows in hundreds and doesn't dissolve, and the Common Inkcap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) is grey with no granules. The Glistening Inkcap is edible when young but not highly regarded.
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Distribution
Widespread and very common
Habitat
On stumps, logs and buried wood
Etymology
Coprinellus means 'little Coprinus', from the Greek kopros, 'dung', after the dung-loving habits of many inkcaps. micaceus is Latin for 'like mica', after the glistening granules.
Cap
The cap is 2-5 cm across, ovoid at first, then flattening, with a striate margin and a granulose surface of tiny glistening veil granules that wear off. It is yellowish-brown to brownish-orange, then greyish when expanded.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Ovoid, Flattened |
| Surface | Granulose |
| Width | 2 - 5 cm |
| Margin | Striate |
Gills
The gills are free and crowded, whitish at first, then turning purple-brown and finally blackening and deliquescing into an inky black fluid.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Attachment | Free |
| Spacing | crowded |
Flesh
The flesh is white and very thin and soft, making the whole fruit body delicate. It is only a thin layer over the gills.
| Colour |
|---|
Stem
White and fragile, finely powdery, often browner towards the base.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Height | 3 - 10 cm |
| Width | 2 - 6 mm |
| Texture | Pruinose |
Spores
The spores have a central germ pore.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Ellipsoid |
| Ornamentation | Smooth |
| Size | 6.5-10 x 4.5-7 μm |
Microscopic Features
| Cheilocystidia | Lageniform, Fusiform |
|---|---|
| Pleurocystidia | Lageniform, Fusiform |
Classification
- ↳ Phylum: Basidiomycota
- ↳ Subphylum: Agaricomycotina
- ↳ Class: Agaricomycetes
- ↳ Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
- ↳ Order: Agaricales
- ↳ Family: Psathyrellaceae
- ↳ Genus: Coprinellus
Synonyms
- Agaricus congregatus sensu Sowerby [Col. Fig. Engl. Fung. 3: pl. 261 (1800)]
- Agaricus micaceus Bull.
- Agaricus micaceus Bull. ex Fr.
- Coprinus micaceus (Bull. ex Fr.) Fr.
- Coprinus micaceus (Bull.) Fr.
Reference Sources
T. Læssøe, J. H. Peterson (2019) Fungi of Temperate Europe Vol. 1. Princeton University Press.
G. Kibby (2021) Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain & Europe Vol. 3. Geoffrey Kibby.
