Coprinus atramentarius (Bull.: Fr.) Fr.

Common name: Ink Cap.

Description: The caps are 35 cm in diameter and are parabolic, white, creamy white or brownish white. As the cap expands, it becomes very broadly conical. The cap surface is smooth and dry but the margins are often split and uneven. The gills are at first white or greyish white, then pinkish and finally black. The stems may be up to 30 cm long and 12 cm thick, and are white, dry, smooth and brittle. Shortly after the gills blacken, an enzymatic autodigestion process begins to dissolve the gill tissues which liquify and drip away. Once autodigestion begins, the process is rapid and within 36 hours all that is left are white stems with blackened and partially liquified cap residues remaining at the apices.

The spores measure 811 × 46 µm and are ellipsoidal, smooth, and black. A germ pore is present.

Substratum: Coprinus atramentarius is always found on the ground. It is usually associated with buried wood and generally forms large groups or tufts. The image provided with this description is of specimens that grew from the roots of an old, dead apricot tree.

Distribution: Known from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Notes: This species is quite common. It is considered edible in Europe, but must NEVER be consumed with alcohol as it contains an alcohol-soluble toxin that causes nausea and palpitations.