It's the start of the main fungi season now, with plenty of species starting the sprout their fruiting bodies. Unfortunately I'm no mycologist, but I do get the fungi book out each autumn and learn a few more each year! One I can identify easily however is the shaggy inkcap, or Coprinus comatus to give it it's scientific name. It is a common amnd widespread species in much of the UK and occurs throughout Europe and North America.
It appears from July to November, but can also fruit in the spring. The cap is an off-white colour when young and varies from about 4-7cm wide. The stem, also an off-white colour extends up to 12cm. It grows among grass in a variety of habitats including meadows, waste lands and road sides.
However, the most interesting aspect of the shaggy inkcap is it's method of spore dispersal. The gills underneath the cap disintigrate as the fungus ages, secreting a black liquid (hence the name 'inkcap'). This black liquid contains the spores - the main reproductive method of the fungus.
Here are some photos from last week, showing the inkcaps at various stages of maturity....
An emerging fruiting body
Disintigrating into the black 'ink' containing the spores
The cap and gills nearly gone, leaving the stem to rot down