Community find

Magpie Inkcap

Coprinopsis picacea

Group

Gilled mushroom

Season

Late summer to late autumn, usually appearing after periods of heavy rain.

Habitat

Typically grows solitarily or in small groups on the ground in deciduous woodlands, particularly under beech trees. It favors chalky or alkaline soils rich in leaf litter.

Key characteristics

Bell-shaped to conical cap, initially dark brown to blackish but covered in a white universal veil that breaks into large, irregular patches or scales resembling magpie feathers. Gills are crowded, free, turning from white to grey and eventually melting into a black liquid (deliquescence). Stem is long, slender, white, and hollow, often with a slightly bulbous base and fibrous texture. Spore print is black.

Look-alikes

Coprinopsis atramentaria (Common Inkcap) which lacks the large white patches; Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Mane) which has a more cylindrical cap and shaggy, upturned scales rather than patches.

Ecological role

Saprophytic; it plays an important role in the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter, specifically leaf litter and woody debris, returning nutrients to the soil.