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Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), whole fruiting body
Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
Inedible

Glistening inkcap

Coprinellus micaceus · Psathyrellaceae

The glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus) is a small, honey- to mustard-coloured, bell-shaped inkcap that grows in dense clusters around stumps and buried wood.

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

FamilyPsathyrellaceae
SeasonMar–Jun, Oct–Nov
Spore printDark brown to black
Cap width2–5 cm
Stem length2–10 cm
Records in Turkey30 records
CultivationWild only
StatusInedible

The glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus) is a small, honey- to mustard-coloured, bell-shaped inkcap that grows in dense clusters around stumps and buried wood. When young its cap is dusted with fine granules that glitter like mica and wash off easily in rain. Some sources call young specimens edible, but it is small, spoils fast and resembles toxic brown cluster-forming species, so it is treated as not edible.

Also called: mica cap, shiny cap Turkish: Pullu mürekkep mantarı Synonyms: Coprinus micaceus

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

Glistening inkcap, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: Dark brown to black No distinctive smell; the flesh is thin and fragile.

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), cap seen from above
Cap2–5 cm; egg-shaped, then bell-shaped. Honey-yellow, mustard or light brown, clearly grooved from the margin inwards. Young caps are dusted with shiny white mica-like granules.
Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), gills under the cap, seen from below
GillsGills crowded, white turning grey-brown, then black; they partly dissolve with age but not as completely as in the shaggy ink cap.
Stem2–10 cm, slender, white, hollow and fragile.

When and where

Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Marin season
  4. Aprin season
  5. Mayin season
  6. Junin season
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Dec

The glistening inkcap appears after rain in spring and autumn; Turkish records peak in May, with others in March, April and November.

Type Inedible

Months seen MarchAprilMayJuneOctoberNovember

Colour BrownYellow

Regions Central Anatolia RegionAegean RegionMarmara RegionAksarayManisaEdirneMuğlaAnkaraIstanbulBalıkesir

Where do glistening inkcaps grow?

On stumps, roots and buried wood of broadleaf trees, in parks, gardens, roadsides and woods. Dozens grow together in dense clusters.

Where is glistening inkcaps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 30 Turkish records, almost all from Istanbul and Ankara, plus Edirne, Balıkesir, Aksaray, Manisa and Muğla. It is common in city parks and gardens.

Which months

  1. Jan2
  2. Feb3
  3. Mar4
  4. Apr4
  5. May12
  6. Jun1
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep0
  10. Oct0
  11. Nov3
  12. Dec1

glistening inkcap map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

7 provinces, 30 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest glistening inkcap 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.

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Glistening inkcap can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Glistening inkcap.

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), whole fruiting body
This species Glistening inkcap
Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), whole fruiting body Poisonous

not Glistening inkcap

Sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasciculare

It also grows in clusters on wood, but its cap is sulphur yellow, its gills greenish-yellow, its flesh bitter, and its gills never dissolve into ink.

Common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria), whole fruiting body Poisonous

not Glistening inkcap

Common ink cap Coprinopsis atramentaria

Larger and grey-brown, with no glittering granules on the cap. Eaten with alcohol it causes a severe reaction.

Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Glistening inkcap

Shaggy ink cap Coprinus comatus

Much larger, with a tall, white, shaggy cap, and grows singly or in groups on grass rather than in clusters on wood.

Pale brittlestem (Candolleomyces candolleanus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Glistening inkcap

Pale brittlestem Candolleomyces candolleanus

The pale brittlestem has no glittering granules on the cap, and its gills darken but do not liquefy.

What it contains

It starts to blacken and dissolve within hours of picking, so it cannot be stored.

General information, not a health claim.

Some sources consider young glistening inkcaps edible, but the species is small, spoils quickly and is easily confused with toxic brown mushrooms that also grow in clusters on wood. Do not eat it. If poisoning is suspected, call poison control and keep any leftover mushroom.

Frequently asked questions

Is the glistening inkcap edible?

Some sources call young specimens edible, but it is small, spoils fast and is confused with toxic clustered species. As opinions differ, we list it as not edible.

Is it poisonous?

It is not known to cause serious poisoning itself. The danger is confusing it with toxic clustered species on wood, such as the sulphur tuft.

What are the glittering granules on the cap?

They are remnants of the veil that covers the young cap; they glitter like mica, hence the name micaceus. Rain and age wash them away.

Where does it grow?

Around stumps, roots and buried wood of broadleaf trees; it is common in parks, gardens and roadsides.

When does it appear?

In spring and autumn after rain. Turkish records peak in May.

Where is it found in Turkey?

Almost all of the 30 records in our map data are from Istanbul and Ankara, with others from Edirne, Balıkesir, Aksaray, Manisa and Muğla.

How does it differ from the shaggy ink cap?

The shaggy ink cap is large, white and shaggy and grows on grass. The glistening inkcap is small, honey-coloured and glittering, and grows in clusters around wood.

It came up in my garden; is it harmful?

It does not harm plants; it feeds on buried roots and wood. You can remove it so children and pets do not eat it.

When is glistening inkcap season in Turkey?

In our calendar, glistening inkcap season runs Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov. The glistening inkcap appears after rain in spring and autumn; Turkish records peak in May, with others in March, April and November.

Where do glistening inkcaps grow?

On stumps, roots and buried wood of broadleaf trees, in parks, gardens, roadsides and woods. Dozens grow together in dense clusters.

Where are glistening inkcaps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 30 Turkish records, almost all from Istanbul and Ankara, plus Edirne, Balıkesir, Aksaray, Manisa and Muğla. It is common in city parks and gardens.

What can the glistening inkcap be confused with?

The glistening inkcap can be confused with sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare, poisonous), common inkcap (Coprinopsis atramentaria, poisonous), shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus, edible species) and pale brittlestem (Candolleomyces candolleanus, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the glistening inkcap called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus) is called Pullu mürekkep mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Wright ve Woof (2024), Wellcome Open Research: Coprinellus micaceus genom dizisi pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Adanacıoğlu ve ark. (2014), ANADOLU (Ege Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü): Türkiye makromantar genetik kaynakları I. Ege Bölgesi dergipark.org.tr
  3. Wikipedia (EN): Coprinellus micaceus en.wikipedia.org
All sources (6)
  1. First Nature: Coprinellus micaceus first-nature.com
  2. iNaturalist: Coprinellus micaceus (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
  3. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (12)