Coprinellus micaceus (Coprinus micaceus) (Bull.) Vilgalys, Hopple & Jacq. Johnson 2001
Saprotrophic. Grows gregariously in clusters from tree roots, rotting stumps and bark of dead fallen logs. Spring through fall. Fawn-brown bell-shaped caps are striate to cap center, are covered in easily removable reflective cells resembling mica when fresh and young. They are the remains of the universal veil. Crowded white gills become brown and then black as spores mature. Thin flesh. Hollow stem is white. It is in the Psathyrellaceae family of the Agaricales order.
They must be cooked and eaten almost immediately after collecting as they will begin to deliquesce or dissolve into an inky black spore filled liquid within 1-3 hours. Cooking halts the process of auto-digestion (enzymatic process). High in potassium. Bio-accumulates heavy metals.
Coprinellus micaceus (Coprinus micaceus)
Coprinellus micaceus (Coprinus micaceus)
Coprinellus micaceus (Coprinus micaceus)