22 October 2007 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Lawyer's Wig, Shaggy Ink Cap Cap Cylindrical at first, then bell shaped, covered with coarse scales, white, with a pale brown centre, but soon turning black and deliquescing from the cap margin inwards, to about 15 cm high Gills Free, crowded, whitish, then pinkish, then black and deliquescing Stem +/- equal, hollow, white Flesh Fragile, white Smell Indistinct Taste Indistinct Season Late summer to autumn Distribution Common Habitat On lawns, waste ground, in grass along roads, alongside paths through woods Spore Print Dark brown Microscopic Features Spores almond shaped, smooth (10-13) x (6.5-8) µm2 Edibility Edible and said to be very good when still white throughout 
22 October 2007 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
22 October 2007 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |