Coprinellus micaceus    (Bull.:Fr.) Vilgalys, Hopple & Jacq. Johnson 

common name(s) : Glistening Inkcap, Mica Cap 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Agaricomycetidae/Agaricales/Psathyrellaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Agaricomycetideae/Agaricales/Coprinaceae  

synonyms: Coprinus micaceus 

edibility : poisonous

photo gallery of Coprinellus micaceus
photo gallery of Coprinellus micaceus potential confusions with Coprinellus micaceus toxicity of Coprinellus micaceus genus Coprinellus  

The cap is tawny-ochre to yellow-ochre. The cap surface is covered with glistening mica-like velar particles, disappearing with age, not viscid nor sticky.

The flesh is unchanging; its taste is faint; the odour is not distinctive; its texture is fibrous.

The gills are white then purple brown then black, adnate, crowded . The spore print is black. This species is saprophytic. It grows on broad-leaved stumps or buried wood.

The fruiting period takes place from April to March.
Dimensions: width of cap approximately 3.5 cm (between 0.5 and 6 cm)
  height of stem approximately 7 cm (between 2 and 10 cm)
  thickness of stem (at largest section) approximately 4 mm (between 2 and 10 mm)

Chemical tests : Veil remnants becoming pinkish when in contact with potash (KOH) or ammonia (NH3).

Distinctive features : Tawny brown to ochre brown cap, ovate then bell shaped, radially furrowed, with shiny mica-like flakes (especially when young); white stem finely downy, without ring; in dense tufts, on dead wood

Coprinellus micaceus is infrequent and scattered in the forest of Rambouillet, and is very frequent, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Coprinellus micaceus in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Coprinellus micaceus in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18