What is the name of this mushroom?

[Chong]

Hi,
I am entering this to a competition and I would appreciate if someone could tell me the name of this mushroom.



This was taken on Pentax 6x7 with a 135mm Macro lens.

Thanks

Regards

Chong

[Ole Tjugen]

Hi,
I am entering this to a competition and I would appreciate if someone could tell me the name of this mushroom.
Regards

Chong

If you had been in Europe, I would have known what it was. But since you're not, I can't be certain enough to name it!

BUT: If you call it "Ink Cap", that should be generic enough to be correct.

[Chong]

Hi Ole,
The mushroom was taken in England last autumn. I only recently moved to NSW. Thanks.

Regards

Chong

[Ole Tjugen]

In that case, it's a "Shaggy Mane", AKA "Lawyer's Wig", Coprinus comatus.

[Chong]

Thanks Ole.

Regards

Chong

[Joanna Carter]

Ole has given you almost everything you need, but here in England, the most common name used is Shaggy Ink Cap. This is because, when it "matures" it sef-digests into an inky liquid that used to be used to write.

[uraniumnitrate]

Yes Ole is right but he didn't mention that this mushroom is a very tasty one when they are still young.

[Aynsley Cooper]

Tasty - yes, but be advised that there will be an adverse reaction when eating this mushroom and taking alcohol - complex subject this, be careful if tempted!

[Ole Tjugen]

Tasty - yes, but be advised that there will be an adverse reaction when eating this mushroom and taking alcohol - complex subject this, be careful if tempted!

Eh no - that's another mushroom in the same family. The shaggy ink cap is considered to be edible without reservations (as long as it's fresh).

The other one (another coprinus (ink cap), but I can't remember the name) used to be considered as edible with the qualification about alcohol, but is now suspected of a cumulative toxic effect. Since we're paranoid about our food here in Norway, we regard that other one as toxic.

BTW; here's a mushroom which by rights should have been regarded as poisonous in Norway. But it's very rare, and I believe I know all of the ten people in Norway who have ever tasted it (it's tasty!).

http://www.soppognyttevekster.no/forum/ ... tarell.jpg

[Aynsley Cooper]

Ole, Hi!, and thanks for the correction.
I like mushrooms, but try to avoid poisoning myself(!) - seems I've been a bit cautious here, but I'd still not be confident with my own ability to identify the edible/inedible/doubtful ink cap, based on UK published books. I'd really like to spend more time with a good field guide in this subject area, but I'm not attracted to photographing them...
(We don't have a great culinary wild mushroom history in England...)
Bring on the Bolete! (I'm happy with my ability there)
Later
Aynsley
Hmm - can anybody imagine writing the words "Bring on the Bolete" in a photography forum? - maybe I should take a lie down...

[Charles Twist]

Would the learned people on this thread be so kind as to name the mushroom in the picture below? The cap was no larger than 3 to 4 cm.
Thanks,
Charles
PS this pic has the customary watermark - no need for the customary comments

[Ole Tjugen]

It's difficult to be certain as I can't see the stems properly, but it looks quite like an Armillaria mellea s.l., or "Honey fungus", AKA "Bootlace fungus". It's edible, but not recommended as it can sometimes give severe allergic reactions. It's also one of the very few fungi that damage living trees - it costs millions in damage to the forestry industry every year.

But it's a little on the small side for that, and without seeing the stem and smelling the cap I can't be sure that it's not a Kuehneromyces mutabilis, or "Two-toned Pholiota". That one is delicious, but can easily be confused with Galerina marginata, "Deadly Galerina", which is as deadly poisonous s the name implies.

All three candidates tend to grow on stumps, too...

[Charles Twist]

Hello Ole,
Thanks for your help. Here is a close-up. I am not sure it helps much.
Charles

[Ole Tjugen]

Hello Ole,
Thanks for your help. Here is a close-up. I am not sure it helps much.
Charles

It does. It's one of the Armillaria mellea group. There are at least six different species lumped together under this name, because they are impossible to tell apart. Even a good microscope is not enough - you need biochemical tests and/or DNA analysis!