Coprinus comatus

Shaggy Ink Cap at Wattamolla, NSW

Coprinus comatus at Wattamolla, NSW - 25 Mar 2020 01:37 PM
Coprinus comatus at Wattamolla, NSW - 25 Mar 2020 01:37 PM
Coprinus comatus at Wattamolla, NSW - 25 Mar 2020 01:37 PM
Coprinus comatus at Wattamolla, NSW - 25 Mar 2020 01:37 PM
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Identification history

Coprinus comatus 26 Mar 2020 Pam
Unverified 26 Mar 2020 WattaWanderer

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User's notes

Very striking fungus! The largest one depicted was observed to be dripping the black liquid. Very interesting!

3 comments

Pam wrote:
   27 Mar 2020
Great images of this 'ink cap' fungus in its various stages of development. This common name has come from the 'dripping black liquid' you noted. The black is mature spores. As these spores mature the cap liquifies (deliquescence) from the outside edge towards to top of the cap and finally all that is left is the stalk (stipe) with its ring (annulus) and a remnant of the cap. These are saprotrophs that is they are decomposers that recycle essential nutrients from the decomposing organic matter back into the soil for plants
WattaWanderer wrote:
   27 Mar 2020
Thanks Pam - fascinating!
Is it ever encouraged to actively try to propagate these fungi from spores? I.e. from a biodiversity perspective?
Pam wrote:
   8 Apr 2020
Sorry I'm not sure what work has been done on this species.

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