Community find

Hare's Foot Inkcap (or similar Inkcap species)

Coprinopsis lagopus

Group

Gilled mushroom

Season

Late spring through autumn, frequently appearing overnight after rainfall.

Habitat

Found growing on soil, wood chips, mulch, or leaf litter in gardens, parks, and wooded areas.

Key characteristics

Conical to bell-shaped cap that becomes flat and splits as it matures. The surface is covered in silvery-grey downy hairs or fibrils that disappear over time. Gills are crowded and turn from white to black as they dissolve into ink. Spore print is black. Stem is fragile, hollow, and white with small hairs.

Look-alikes

Coprinopsis atramentaria (Common Inkcap) which has a smoother cap, and Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Mane) which is much larger and more cylindrical.

Ecological role

Saprophytic mushroom that decomposes organic matter like wood debris and compost, recycling nutrients back into the soil.