The image, above, shows a range of pictures of Shaggy Ink Capmushroom (Coprinus comatus), showing a classic cluster
of different-sized mushrooms in a lawn, top. Also shown are an
upright and inverted mushrooms, showing the gills, bottom left
and a cluster of smaller scotch bonnet mushrooms, bottom right..
| Common Name: Shaggy Ink Cap |
| Scientific Name: Coprinus comatus |
| Other Names: Lawyer's Wig, or Shaggy Mane |
| Family: Agaricaceae |
| Range: Grasslands and meadows in Europe and North America. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand and Iceland. |
Physical Characteristics Edibility Rating: 5 
Coprinus comatus is a saprophytic fungus, growing to 25cm (10 in) by 5cm (2 in) in size. They prefer green areas and can grow in gardens and parkland as well as fields. The mushroom fruits in October.
|
| Edible Parts: Caps |
 Spore Print: Black-brown
|
 Cap: Conical
|
 Hymenium: Free
|
 Gills: Gills on hymenium
|
 Stipe: Has a Ring
|
Edibility Rating: 4 
|
 Known Hazards: None Known.
|
Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Wild Food guide to Shaggy Ink Cap along with all the Shaggy Ink Cap containing recipes presented on this site, with 1 recipes in total.
This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.
These recipes, all contain Shaggy Ink Cap as a major wild food ingredient.
The Shaggy Ink Cap, Coprinus comatus (also known as Lawyer's Wig, or Shaggy Mane) is a species of basidomycete fungus (filamentous fungi composed of hyphae that reproduce sexually) and is a member of the Agaricaceae (agaricus) family that have black spore prints. It is a fairly common species in and around towns, often on mown verges. It is typically gregarious in nature and is found on the wooded verges of parks and common ground. Globally, it is widespread in temperate regions (it is commercially grown in China) and typically fruits initially in September but is most common October and can continue fruiting through November. This is quite a large mushroom (it can grow between 10 and 25cm tall) and initially they look like pale fingers sticking up from the ground. At this initial stage (when they should be picked) no stem is visible. As the mushroom matures they resemble a rugby ball in shape and the outer surface breaks up into shaggy scales (the top will be a muddy brown). As the mushroom opens further the base of the cap reveals the gills which begin as white then turn pink and then black. At this stage the cap pulls away from the stem and the edge of the cap begins to deliquesce, releasing the spores in a black liquid (the ink). Mature, open, specimens should not be picked. The stem is smooth, white and hollow and tends to shatter when picked. It is broader at the base and bears a single movable ring (which may have been rubbed off).
The gills are crowded but free, begin white then turn pink and finally black. The flesh is white and thin and when young has a mild and pleasantly mushroomy aroma. The spore print is black. The mushroom must be picked young and should be eaten as soon as possible (at least within an hour of picking) as enzymes within the mushroom will quickly lead to its liquefying, though keeping the stem intact will help keep it a little longer.
Coprinus comatus is a nematophagous fungus capable of killing and digesting the nematode species Panagrellus redivivus and Meloidogyne arenaria.
There is only one species with which the shaggy ink cap can easily be confused and that's the Common Ink Cap (Coprinus atramentarius) which tends to be smaller and more bell-shaped in form. The cap is more pointed and bears small fawn scales rather than shaggy scales. Common ink cap contains the amino acid coprine, which reacts badly with alcohol leading to vomiting and diarrhoea. It's best to avoid the common ink cap completely.
The young mushrooms, before the gills start to turn black, are edible. The taste is mild; cooking produces a large quantity of liquid. It can sometimes be used in mushroom soup with parasol mushroom. Large quantities of microwaved-then-frozen shaggy manes are delicious when used as the liquid component of risotto, replacing the usual chicken stock. This species is grown commercially in China as food.
For other edible mushrooms, see the guide to edible mushrooms
[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–8.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms
[12]. Bunker, F.; Brodie, J.A.; Maggs, C.A. & Bunker, A. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia — A Source Book of Edible Plants
This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.
These recipes, all contain Shaggy Ink Cap as a major wild food ingredient.
The Shaggy Ink Cap, Coprinus comatus (also known as Lawyer's Wig, or Shaggy Mane) is a species of basidomycete fungus (filamentous fungi composed of hyphae that reproduce sexually) and is a member of the Agaricaceae (agaricus) family that have black spore prints. It is a fairly common species in and around towns, often on mown verges. It is typically gregarious in nature and is found on the wooded verges of parks and common ground. Globally, it is widespread in temperate regions (it is commercially grown in China) and typically fruits initially in September but is most common October and can continue fruiting through November. This is quite a large mushroom (it can grow between 10 and 25cm tall) and initially they look like pale fingers sticking up from the ground. At this initial stage (when they should be picked) no stem is visible. As the mushroom matures they resemble a rugby ball in shape and the outer surface breaks up into shaggy scales (the top will be a muddy brown). As the mushroom opens further the base of the cap reveals the gills which begin as white then turn pink and then black. At this stage the cap pulls away from the stem and the edge of the cap begins to deliquesce, releasing the spores in a black liquid (the ink). Mature, open, specimens should not be picked. The stem is smooth, white and hollow and tends to shatter when picked. It is broader at the base and bears a single movable ring (which may have been rubbed off).
The gills are crowded but free, begin white then turn pink and finally black. The flesh is white and thin and when young has a mild and pleasantly mushroomy aroma. The spore print is black. The mushroom must be picked young and should be eaten as soon as possible (at least within an hour of picking) as enzymes within the mushroom will quickly lead to its liquefying, though keeping the stem intact will help keep it a little longer.
Coprinus comatus is a nematophagous fungus capable of killing and digesting the nematode species Panagrellus redivivus and Meloidogyne arenaria.
There is only one species with which the shaggy ink cap can easily be confused and that's the Common Ink Cap (Coprinus atramentarius) which tends to be smaller and more bell-shaped in form. The cap is more pointed and bears small fawn scales rather than shaggy scales. Common ink cap contains the amino acid coprine, which reacts badly with alcohol leading to vomiting and diarrhoea. It's best to avoid the common ink cap completely.
The young mushrooms, before the gills start to turn black, are edible. The taste is mild; cooking produces a large quantity of liquid. It can sometimes be used in mushroom soup with parasol mushroom. Large quantities of microwaved-then-frozen shaggy manes are delicious when used as the liquid component of risotto, replacing the usual chicken stock. This species is grown commercially in China as food.
For other edible mushrooms, see the guide to edible mushrooms
References:
[1]. David Evans Notes from field observations, tastings and cookery experiments.[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–8.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms
[12]. Bunker, F.; Brodie, J.A.; Maggs, C.A. & Bunker, A. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia — A Source Book of Edible Plants
The alphabetical list of all Shaggy Ink Cap recipes on this site follows, (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 1 recipes in total:
Page 1 of 1
| Wild Mushroom Pizza Origin: Britain |
Page 1 of 1