Coprinus comatus 4664489 222739157 2008-06-30T21:36:32Z Ka Faraq Gatri 6892069 Removed redlink category {{Taxobox | name = ''Coprinus comatus'' | image = Coprinus comatus.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''C. comatus'' mature | regnum = [[Fungus|Fungi]] | subregnum = [[Dikarya]] | phylum = [[Basidiomycota]] | subphylum = [[Agaricomycotina]] | classis = [[Agaricomycetes]] | ordo = [[Agaricales]] | familia = [[Agaricaceae]] | genus = ''[[Coprinus]]'' | species = '''''C. comatus''''' | binomial = ''Coprinus comatus'' | binomial_authority = ([[Otto Friedrich Müller|O.F. Müll.]]) [[Persoon]] }} '''''Coprinus comatus''''', the '''shaggy ink cap''', '''lawyer's wig''', or '''shaggy mane''', is a common [[fungus]] often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas. The young fruiting bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out. The caps are white, and covered with scales - this is the origin of the common names of the fungus. The [[Gill (mushroom)|gill]]s beneath the cap are white, then pink, then turn black and secrete a black liquid filled with spores (hence the “ink cap” name). Its specific name derives from ''coma'', or “hair”, hence ''comatus'', “haired” or “shaggy”. When young it is an excellent edible mushroom provided that it is eaten soon after being collected (it keeps very badly because of the autodigestion of its gills and cap). The species is [[fungiculture|cultivated]] in China as food. ''Coprinus comatus'' is the type species for the genus ''[[Coprinus]]''. This genus was formerly considered to be a large one with well over 100 species. However, molecular analysis of DNA sequences showed that the former species belonged in 2 families, the [[Agaricaceae]] and the [[Psathyrellaceae]]. ''Coprinus comatus'' is the best known of the true ''Coprinus''. Adding to its unusual features, a recent study has found the shaggy ink cap kills [[nematode]] species ''[[Panagrellus redivivus]]'' and ''[[Meloidogyne arenaria]]''.<ref>Hong Luo, Minghe Mo, Xiaowei Huang, Xuan Li & Keqin Zhang. (2004) ''Coprinus comatus'': A [[basidiomycete]] fungus forms novel spiny structures and infects nematode ''Mycologia'' '''96''': 1218-1224. [http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/full/96/6/1218 online]</ref> See also [[nematophagous fungus]]. == Description == [[Image:Coprinus-comatus.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Shaggy Ink Caps]] The shaggy ink cap is easily recognizable from its cap which initially covers almost the whole of its stem. Entirely white to begin with, the cap becomes shaggy as separating scales develop. The gills change rapidly from white to pink, then to black. It is deliquescent. Microscopically it lacks pleuro[[cystidia]]. == Distribution and habitat == It grows in groups in places which are often unexpected, such as green areas in towns. It occurs widely in grasslands and meadows in Europe and North America. It appears to have been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. {{mycomorphbox | name = Coprinus comatus | image_width = 240px | whichGills = free | capShape = conical | hymeniumType=gills | stipeCharacter=ring | ecologicalType=saprotrophic | sporePrintColor=black | howEdible=choice }} == Growth == The left image below shows a young mushroom. The right image shows the same specimen 24 hours later. 'Ink' can be seen dripping from the gills. <gallery> Image:Coprinus comatus, 10th October.jpg|10th October Image:Coprinus comatus, 11th October.jpg|11th October Image:Coprinus comatus spores.jpg|Spores </gallery> == Edibility == The young mushrooms, before the gills start to turn black, are edible. It can sometimes be used in [[mushroom soup]] with [[parasol mushroom]]. == References == Much of the above article was translated from [[:fr:Coprin|the French page]] and Dutch pages. <div class="references-small"><references/> * Pierre Montarnal: ''Le petit guide: Champignons'' (Genève, 1964; Paris-Hachette, 1969). * Régis Courtecuisse, Bernard Duhem: ''Guide des champignons de France et d'Europe'' (Delachaux & Niestlé, 1994-2000). ISBN 978-2-603-00953-6 * Roger Phillips: ''Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe'' (Pan Books Ltd. 1981 / Book Club Associates 1981) - for the English names. </div> == External links == * [http://americanmushrooms.com/edibles5.htm AmericanMushrooms.com: Best Edible Wild Mushrooms] * [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinus.html “The Genus ''Coprinus'': The Inky Caps”] by Michael Kuo, ''MushroomExpert.com'', February, 2005. * [http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~idakees/ All about Inkcaps: ''Coprinus'' site of Kees Uljé] – taxonomy and keys to coprinoid fungi. * [http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2004.html Fungus of the Month for May 2004: ''Coprinus comatus'', the shaggy mane] by Tom Volk, ''TomVolkFungi.net''. * [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinus_comatus.html “''Coprinus comatus'': The Shaggy Mane”] by Michael Kuo, ''MushroomExpert.com'', September, 2001. * [http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Coprinus_comatus.html “California Fungi: ''Coprinus comatus''”], ''MykoWeb.com''. * [http://www.mykoweb.com/cookbook/shaggymane.html “Wild About Mushrooms: Shaggy Mane Mushroom”] by Louise Freedman, ''MykoWeb.com''. *[http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/9.html “''Coprinus comatus''”] by Robert Sasata, ''Healing-Mushrooms.net'', September, 2007. * [http://vitalpilze.de/Coprinus_15_14.html Medicinal Mushroom Society] {{Commons|Coprinus comatus}} {{wikispecies}} [[Category:Agaricaceae]] [[Category:Fungi of Chile]] [[Category:Fungi of New Zealand]] [[Category:Fungi naturalized in Australia]] [[Category:Edible mushrooms]] [[Category:Carnivorous fungi]] [[bg:Порцеланова копринка]] [[ca:Bolet de tinta]] [[cs:Hnojník obecný]] [[de:Schopftintling]] [[eu:Urbeltz]] [[fr:Coprin chevelu]] [[is:Ullserkur]] [[it:Coprinus comatus]] [[ka:მერცხალა სოკო]] [[lt:Gauruotasis mėšlagrybis]] [[hu:Gyapjas tintagomba]] [[nl:Geschubde inktzwam]] [[pl:Czernidłak kołpakowaty]] [[fi:Suomumustesieni]] [[sv:Fjällig bläcksvamp]] [[uk:Гнойовик білий]] [[zh:鸡腿菇]]