Shaggy mane or Common inkcap
Coprinus comatus · Coprinopsis atramentaria
Coprine, which blocks alcohol metabolism in the way the drug disulfiram does
Harmless eaten by itself. Combined with alcohol at any point in roughly the following three days it causes sudden flushing, a pounding heart, headache, nausea and a strong sense of impending doom.
Check in this order
Most decisive first
| Feature | Shaggy mane | Common inkcap |
|---|---|---|
| 01Shape and surface | A tall white cylinder, clearly shaggy with upturned scales. | Egg-shaped then bell-shaped, grey-brown, smooth apart from fine grooves. |
| 02Colour | White, blackening only from the bottom edge as it dissolves. | Grey-brown from the start. |
| 03How it grows | Singly or in loose lines along disturbed ground and verges. | In tight clusters from buried wood. |
Where people go wrong
The delay. Nobody connects Friday's glass of wine to Wednesday's mushrooms, so the reaction is usually blamed on the drink. If you eat inkcaps at all, know which one you have and stay dry for three days.
This page tells you what to check. It does not tell you the mushroom in your hand is safe, and it cannot. If you are not certain, do not eat it, and if you have already eaten something and feel unwell, contact a poison centre immediately and keep an uncooked specimen for identification.
Other pairs