Shaggy Mane
Coprinus comatus
What it is
Coprinus comatus, the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a common fungus often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas. The young fruit bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out. The caps are white, and covered with scales—this is the origin of the common names of the fungus. The gills beneath the cap are white, then pink, then turn black and...
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- You can find Shaggy Manes in grassy areas, lawns, parks, and along roadsides across much of the United States.
- How to find it
- Look in disturbed ground, like new lawns or areas where soil has been moved. They often pop up after rain.
- Best time of day
- Late summer and fall, especially after rain.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Dead organic matter in soil
- What eats it
- Some insects, slugs
Worth knowing
- They are also called "Lawyer's Wig" mushrooms.
- The inky liquid helps to spread their spores.
- They grow very quickly, often appearing overnight.
- Young Shaggy Manes are edible for humans.
- Their ink was once used as a writing ink.
- They belong to a group of mushrooms called 'ink caps' because they self-digest into an inky liquid.
Why it matters
Shaggy Manes help break down dead plants and return nutrients to the soil. This makes the soil rich for other plants to grow.