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Common inkcap (Coprinopsis atramentaria)

Sticky and useful, inkcaps were used as a source of ink for important documents to guard against forgeries.

Common inkcap grows on buried decaying wood.

Credit: Susan and Allan Parker / Alamy Stock Photo

The caps are egg-shaped at first before becoming conical in shape.

Credit: Aleksandar Milutinovic / Alamy Stock Photo

Quick facts

Common names: common inkcap, tippler’s bane

Scientific name: Coprinopsis atramentaria

Family: Psathyrellaceae

Fruiting season: spring to early winter after rain

Habitat: dead and decaying wood

What does common inkcap look like?

Common inkcap fungus grows in tufts from buried decaying wood, usually appearing after rain. It can be up to 17cm tall, with a conical cap and shaggy edge which often drips an inky liquid.

Cap: fawn-grey, egg-shaped, and mostly smooth at first. Develops into a conical cap, 3–7cm in diameter, grooved and often split at the edges, eventually turning black.

Gills/spores: white at first, then brown and then black as the gills ‘autodigest’ into a thick inky liquid which drips from the edges of the cap. The spores are of an elliptical shape and its spore print is black.

Stipe (stalk): hollow white stem with reddish-brown fibres called fibrils.

Not to be confused with: glistening inkcap (Coprinus micaceus), which is smaller and redder when young.

Credit: Pjrnature / Alamy Stock Photo

Where to find common inkcap 

Common inkcap is widespread in the UK. It  grows in pastures, parks and gardens, and on tree stumps and pavements; in fact wherever there is buried wood.

Uses of common inkcap

Historically common inkcap was used to make ink for important documents. It would guard against forgery as the spores could be detected under a microscope.

Historically the mushroom was used to make ink.

Credit: Philippe Clement / naturepl.com

Did you know?

It is also known as ‘tippler’s bane’ because it is poisonous if alcohol is consumed up to three days before and up to three days after eating it, causing nausea and hot flushes.

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