Coprinopsis atramentaria

Coprinopsis atramentaria

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Psathyrellaceae
Genus: Coprinopsis
Species:
C. atramentaria
Binomial name
Coprinopsis atramentaria
(Bull.) Redhead, Vilgalys & Moncalvo (2001)
Synonyms

Coprinus atramentarius

Coprinopsis atramentaria
Gills on hymenium
Cap is ovate
Hymenium is free
Stipe is bare
Spore print is blackish-brown
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is edible or poisonous

Coprinopsis atramentaria, commonly known as the common ink cap, tippler's bane, or inky cap, is a species of fungus. Previously known as Coprinus atramentarius, it is the second best-known ink cap and previous member of the genus Coprinus after C. comatus. The grey-brown cap is initially bell-shaped before opening, after which it flattens and disintegrates. The flesh is thin and the taste mild.

It is a widespread and common throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Clumps of mushrooms arise after rain from spring to autumn, commonly in urban and disturbed habitats such as vacant lots and lawns, as well as grassy areas. It can be eaten, but due to the presence of coprine within the mushroom, it is poisonous when consumed with alcohol, as it heightens the body's sensitivity to ethanol in a similar manner to the anti-alcoholism drug disulfiram.