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Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), whole fruiting body
Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, N… · CC0
Poisonous

Common ink cap

Coprinopsis atramentaria · Psathyrellaceae

The common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) is a grey-brown, bell-capped mushroom that grows in clusters in lawns, gardens and verges, often on buried wood or roots.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team6 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyPsathyrellaceae
SeasonMar–May, Oct–Jan
Spore printBlack
Cap width3–7 cm
Stem length8–15 cm
Records in Turkey10 records
CultivationWild only
StatusPoisonous

The common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) is a grey-brown, bell-capped mushroom that grows in clusters in lawns, gardens and verges, often on buried wood or roots. As it matures the gills and cap dissolve from the edge into a black, ink-like liquid. It contains coprine: eaten with alcohol, even alcohol drunk days later, it causes palpitations, flushing and nausea. For that reason we list it as poisonous.

Also called: common inkcap, tippler's bane, alcohol inky cap Turkish: Gri mürekkep mantarı, mürekkepli mantar Synonyms: Coprinus atramentarius

Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

Common ink cap, part by part

No volva Spore print: Black Indistinct.

Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), cap seen from above
Cap3–7 cm; egg-shaped at first, then bell-shaped, the margin splitting with age. Grey to grey-brown, a little darker at the centre; smooth or finely lined, sometimes with small brown scales at the top.
Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), gills under the cap, seen from below
GillsGills very crowded and free; white at first, then grey-violet, finally black and dissolving into ink from the edge.
Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), stem and stem base
Stem8–15 cm, white, hollow and brittle, slightly thickened towards the base.
Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), whole fruiting body
RingNo true ring; a faint ring-like zone may remain on the lower stem.

When and where

Mar–May, Oct–Jan

  1. Janin season
  2. Feb
  3. Marin season
  4. Aprin season
  5. Mayin season
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Decin season

The common ink cap appears in spring and autumn after rain. Most of our Turkish records fall in October and November, with further records in January, March and May.

Type Poisonous

Months seen MarchAprilMayOctoberNovemberDecemberJanuary

Colour GreyBrown

Regions Black Sea RegionMediterranean RegionMarmara RegionAntalyaOsmaniyeSamsunIstanbulKırklareli

Where do common ink caps grow?

Lawns, parks, gardens, verges and woodland edges, on buried wood, old stumps and rich soil. It is a decomposer and usually grows in dense clusters.

Where is common ink caps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 10 Turkish records: 6 from Istanbul and one each from Samsun, Antalya, Osmaniye and Kırklareli. The species is also on the published list of Turkish Coprinopsis species (Kaya et al., 2010, Turkish Journal of Botany).

Which months

  1. Jan2
  2. Feb0
  3. Mar1
  4. Apr0
  5. May1
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep0
  10. Oct4
  11. Nov2
  12. Dec0

5 provinces, 10 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest common ink cap observations

On "illustrative" cards the image is a photo of the species; the observation photo cannot be shown here because of its licence, but can be seen at the source.

Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What is it mistaken for?

Common ink cap can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Common ink cap.

Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), whole fruiting body
This species Common ink cap
Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Common ink cap

Shaggy ink cap Coprinus comatus

The shaggy ink cap is white, tall and cylindrical, covered in raised shaggy scales, with a loose ring on the stem. The common ink cap is grey-brown, shorter and smooth, with no ring. They can grow side by side, so do not eat either unless sure.

Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), cap seen from above Inedible

not Common ink cap

Magpie inkcap Coprinopsis picacea

The magpie inkcap's dark cap is patched with white like a magpie's plumage, and it grows singly, mostly in beech woods. The common ink cap is plain and grows in clusters in grass.

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Common ink cap

Glistening inkcap Coprinellus micaceus

The glistening inkcap is much smaller (cap 1–4 cm), honey-brown, and its young cap is dusted with glittering mica-like particles; it forms large clusters on rotting wood.

Toxins

Sources say it causes no symptoms in most people when eaten without alcohol, but its alcohol reaction and easy confusion leave it no place in the kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

Is the common ink cap edible?

Our advice is not to eat it. It contains coprine and reacts badly with alcohol taken before, with or days after the meal, and it is easily confused with other ink caps.

Why is the common ink cap poisonous with alcohol?

Its coprine blocks an enzyme the body uses to break down alcohol (aldehyde dehydrogenase). When alcohol is drunk, acetaldehyde builds up, causing flushing, palpitations, nausea and vomiting.

How long after eating it can alcohol cause a reaction?

Sources say the effect can last several days after the meal, with the first two or three days the riskiest. Symptoms start shortly after drinking.

How do you tell it from the shaggy ink cap?

The shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus) is white, tall and shaggy-scaled, with a ring on the stem. The common ink cap is grey-brown, shorter and smooth, grows in clusters and has no ring.

Where does it grow?

In lawns, parks, gardens and verges, usually in clusters over buried wood or roots.

When does it appear?

In spring and autumn after rain; most of our Turkish records are from October and November.

Where is it found in Turkey?

Our map data has 10 records from Istanbul, Samsun, Antalya, Osmaniye and Kırklareli.

Was its black liquid really used as ink?

Sources record that the black liquid from the dissolving cap was once used as ink, which gives the species its name.

What is a coprinoid mushroom?

Coprinoid describes mushrooms such as the ink caps, whose gills dissolve into a black liquid to release their spores. They once all sat in the genus Coprinus; today they are split into Coprinus, Coprinopsis, Coprinellus and Parasola. The common ink cap belongs to Coprinopsis.

Are common ink caps poisonous?

Yes, the common ink cap is poisonous and must not be eaten. The common ink cap contains a compound called coprine. If alcohol is drunk with the meal or in the following few days, it causes flushing of the face and neck, palpitations, nausea, vomiting and a drop in blood pressure. The reaction can recur each time alcohol is taken. Do not eat this species. If poisoning is suspected, call poison control and keep any leftover mushroom.

When is common ink cap season in Turkey?

In our calendar, common ink cap season runs Mar–May, Oct–Jan. The common ink cap appears in spring and autumn after rain. Most of our Turkish records fall in October and November, with further records in January, March and May.

Where do common ink caps grow?

Lawns, parks, gardens, verges and woodland edges, on buried wood, old stumps and rich soil. It is a decomposer and usually grows in dense clusters.

Where are common ink caps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 10 Turkish records: 6 from Istanbul and one each from Samsun, Antalya, Osmaniye and Kırklareli. The species is also on the published list of Turkish Coprinopsis species (Kaya et al., 2010, Turkish Journal of Botany).

What can the common ink cap be confused with?

The common ink cap can be confused with shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus, edible species), magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea, inedible) and glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the common ink cap called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) is called Gri mürekkep mantarı; other local names include mürekkepli mantar.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Kaya ve ark. (2010), Turkish Journal of Botany 34(4): A new Coprinopsis record for the mycobiota of Turkey (Türkiye Coprinopsis listesi) journals.tubitak.gov.tr
  2. Wikipedia (EN): Coprinopsis atramentaria en.wikipedia.org
  3. First Nature: Coprinopsis atramentaria, Common Inkcap first-nature.com
All sources (6)
  1. Wikipedia (EN): Coprine en.wikipedia.org
  2. iNaturalist: Coprinopsis atramentaria (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
  3. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (8)