Wednesday 21 November 2018

Shaggy Ink Caps

It is the time of year when the shaggy ink cap grows on our campus wastelands on either side of the cycle path.

I believe also known as "Lawyer's wigs" for the appearance of the fruiting body, a sort of wavy haired effect that drips black at the end as the fungus begins to spore, these fellows are regarded as being quite  a delicacy as long as you get them before that aforementioned sporing.

Indeed, one of the reasons I've not seen so many of them in the last couple of years is that we evidently have some foragers at work who have recognised the goodies under their noses; I remember seeing a girl wandering  off in the dusk gathering armfuls of them last year.

Fair play to her. If she doesn't mind the light dusting of myxamotosis rabbit corpse that probably covers them.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.11.18






6 comments:

  1. I thought they were poisonous! At any stage. Great photos.

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  2. I love Shaggy Inkcaps to look at although wouldn't fancy eating one. In fact would not be tasting any mushroom I had collected - so many poisonous ones that can look similar to those that are safe to eat!

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  3. Thank you! I would never eat any foraged fungi ever ever!

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  4. Hi Simon, I love looking for fungi on walks, and I've noticed there seem to be quite a few this year. Unfortunately, I can't tell the difference between mushrooms and poisonous toadstools, so, like you, would never eat any foraged fungi.

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  5. I love looking at fungi as I walk through woodland.
    I would never forage, I find it hard to tell one from another.

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  6. A beautiful sight of mushrooms, a Shaggy Inkcap posing.

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