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Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), cap seen from above
Björn Sothmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
Inedible

Magpie inkcap

Coprinopsis picacea · Psathyrellaceae

The magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea) is a tall, white-stemmed inkcap whose dark brown to black cap is covered with white patches, like a magpie's plumage.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team4 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyPsathyrellaceae
SeasonOct–Jan
Spore printBlack
Cap width5–8 cm
Stem length9–30 cm
Records in Turkey50 records
CultivationWild only
StatusInedible

The magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea) is a tall, white-stemmed inkcap whose dark brown to black cap is covered with white patches, like a magpie's plumage. As it matures its gills dissolve into black ink. It is reported to be poisonous, though sources disagree; it is treated as not edible.

Also called: magpie fungus Turkish: Saksağan mantarı, saksağan mürekkep mantarı Synonyms: Coprinus picaceus

Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

Magpie inkcap, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: Black Faintly unpleasant, sometimes described as tarry or like mothballs.

Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), cap seen from above
Cap5–8 cm tall; egg-shaped, then bell-shaped. At first covered by a white veil that tears into white patches on a dark brown to black background. With age the margin curls up and dissolves.
Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), gills under the cap, seen from below
GillsGills crowded and free; white, then pinkish-grey, then black, finally dissolving into ink.
Stem9–30 cm, white, hollow and fragile; slightly thicker and downy towards the base.

When and where

Oct–Jan

  1. Janin season
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Decin season

The magpie inkcap is an autumn species; most Turkish records are from October and November, with some in December and January.

Type Inedible

Months seen OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuary

Colour BlackWhite

Regions Black Sea RegionMediterranean RegionAegean RegionMarmara RegionDüzceManisaSamsunKastamonuBoluIstanbulKırklareli

Where do magpie inkcaps grow?

In deciduous woods on calcareous soil, most often under beech, in leaf litter; singly or a few together.

Where is magpie inkcaps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 50 Turkish records, mostly from Kırklareli (the Strandzha forests) and Istanbul, plus Samsun, Bolu, Düzce, Kastamonu, Bilecik, Manisa, Kocaeli, Muğla, Çanakkale and Tekirdağ.

Other provinces: Aydın (1), Balıkesir (1), Bursa (1), Osmaniye (1)

Which months

  1. Jan4
  2. Feb1
  3. Mar0
  4. Apr1
  5. May0
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep0
  10. Oct25
  11. Nov16
  12. Dec3

magpie inkcap map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

16 provinces, 50 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest magpie inkcap observations

Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

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

Magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea), cap seen from above
This species Magpie inkcap
Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Magpie inkcap

Shaggy ink cap Coprinus comatus

The shaggy ink cap has a tall, cylindrical, white cap with shaggy scales, no black-and-white patchwork, a small ring on the stem, and grows in open places such as lawns and roadsides.

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

not Magpie inkcap

Common ink cap Coprinopsis atramentaria

It has a plain grey-brown cap and grows in clusters, usually on buried wood. Eaten with alcohol it causes a severe reaction.

What it contains

It has no culinary value; the main point of knowing it is not to confuse it with the edible shaggy ink cap.

General information, not a health claim.

The magpie inkcap is reported to be poisonous and to cause stomach upsets, while some sources call its edibility uncertain. Do not pick or eat it. If poisoning is suspected, call poison control and keep any leftover mushroom.

Frequently asked questions

Is the magpie inkcap edible?

No. It is reported to be poisonous and to cause stomach upsets; as sources disagree, we treat it as not edible.

Why is it called the magpie inkcap?

The white patches on its dark cap recall a magpie's black-and-white plumage; its Latin name also comes from pica, magpie.

Is it an inkcap?

Yes, it belongs to the inkcaps: when mature its gills dissolve into a black liquid. But it is not the same species as the edible shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus).

How do you identify it?

A tall white stem, a dark bell-shaped cap with white patches; gills turn black and dissolve, spore print black.

When and where does it appear?

In autumn, in beech and oak woods on calcareous soil, in leaf litter. Turkish records peak in October and November.

Where is it found in Turkey?

Our map data has 50 records, mostly from Kırklareli and Istanbul, plus Samsun, Bolu, Düzce, Kastamonu and other provinces.

Does it react with alcohol?

The species known to react with alcohol is its relative Coprinopsis atramentaria. No such effect is established for the magpie inkcap, which should not be eaten anyway.

Can it be cultivated?

No, it is a wild species and, not being edible, it is not grown.

Which mushroom is black and white?

The magpie inkcap is the best-known black-and-white mushroom: its dark cap is broken into white patches like a magpie's plumage, and its gills turn black and inky. We do not eat it.

When is magpie inkcap season in Turkey?

In our calendar, magpie inkcap season runs Oct–Jan. The magpie inkcap is an autumn species; most Turkish records are from October and November, with some in December and January.

Where do magpie inkcaps grow?

In deciduous woods on calcareous soil, most often under beech, in leaf litter; singly or a few together.

Where are magpie inkcaps found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 50 Turkish records, mostly from Kırklareli (the Strandzha forests) and Istanbul, plus Samsun, Bolu, Düzce, Kastamonu, Bilecik, Manisa, Kocaeli, Muğla, Çanakkale and Tekirdağ.

What can the magpie inkcap be confused with?

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

What is the magpie inkcap called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the magpie inkcap (Coprinopsis picacea) is called Saksağan mantarı; other local names include saksağan mürekkep mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (EN): Coprinopsis picacea en.wikipedia.org
  2. First Nature: Coprinopsis picacea first-nature.com
  3. iNaturalist: Coprinopsis picacea (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
All sources (4)
  1. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (16)