Mica Cap
(Coprinellus micaceus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | not listed |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Mica Cap is a very common and very widespread mushroom. It has been collected in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America. In the United States has been seen from coast to coast. It occurs from April through October in hardwood and mixed forests and woodlands. It grows in dense clusters usually on decaying hardwood stumps, logs, and woody debris, sometimes on the ground growing on buried wood. It obtains its nutrients from already decaying hardwood (saprobic), especially bark. The cap when young is oval, tan to yellowish brown or tawny, and darkest in the center. It is narrowly grooved (striate) at least half way to the margin. It is covered with minute, loosely-attached, whitish, glistening particles. The particles are remnants of an egg-like structure (universal veil) that protected the newly emerging mushroom. The particles soon wash away with rain or dew and the cap first becomes bell-shaped then flattens out. The mature cap is ¾″ to 2″ in diameter and grayish, especially toward the margin. As it ages the margins dissolve progressively inward into black ink at that drips to the ground. The gills are pale at first and crowded. They may be broadly attached to the stalk (adnate), narrowly attached (adnexed), or not attached (free). As they mature they turn gray or brownish, then ultimately black. As they release their spores they self-digest, turning into black ink at that drips to the ground. The stalk is white, smooth, hollow, and fragile, It is usually 1¾″ to 3″ long and 1 ⁄16″ to ¼″ in diameter. Large individuals may be up to 4¾″ tall. The flesh is soft and white or pale. It is edible but thin and watery. The spores are black. |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat and Hosts |
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Hardwood and mixed forests and woodlands, suburbs, urban areas |
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Ecology |
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Season |
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April through October |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 8/28/2022 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Widespread and very common |
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Taxonomy |
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| Kingdom | Fungi (fungi) | ||
| Subkingdom | Dikarya | ||
| Division | Basidiomycota (club fungi) | ||
| Subdivision | Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms) | ||
| Class | Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies) | ||
| Subclass | Agaricomycetidae | ||
| Order | Agaricales (common gilled mushrooms and allies) | ||
| Suborder | Agaricineae | ||
| Family | Physalacriaceae | ||
| Genus | Coprinellus | ||
| Section | Micacei | ||
Mica Cap was originally classified in 1786 as Agaricus micaceus. In 1838 it was reclassified as Coprinus micaceus. In 2001 that genus was split and it became Coprinellus micaceus. |
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Synonyms |
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Agaricus micaceus Coprinus micaceus |
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Common Names |
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Glistening Inky Cap Mica Cap |
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Glossary
Saprobic
A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.
Striate
Striped or grooved in parallel lines (striae).
Universal veil
An egg-like structure that envelopes all or most of a developing gill mushroom. Remnants of the universal veil sometimes visible on a mature mushroom are patchy warts on the cap, a ring on the stalk, and a volva at the base of the stalk.
Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this fungus. |
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Margot Avey |
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Savannah Hanson |
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Found in my backyard! |
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Alissa |
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Stephanie Segner |
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Mica Cap or Coprinus micaceus or common inky cap. I found these in several places this season but these pictures were in my yard growing on a stump we pulled up last fall. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Mushroom |
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Cap |
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Gills |
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Partially autodigested |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this mammal. |
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Other Videos |
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| On Mica Caps The Richest Fare |
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About
Published on Mar 26, 2016 An overview of the mica cap mushroom as a wild edible. Go to therichestfare.com for more about real food, healthy living and spiritual encouragement. |
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| Mica Cap Mushroom Identification - Morel Season Mushrooms MiWilderness |
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About
Published on May 18, 2014 Thanks for watching MiWilderness. |
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| Coprinellus micaceus AKA Mica Cap Mushrooms Video/Daily Video V log while Mushroom Hunting Walt Reven Jr |
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About
Published on Sep 24, 2017 Found in northwest arkansas in late july under a dead oak tree. Not much more to say, enjoy the video everyone :) |
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| Coprinellus micaceus, the mica cap. 4/9/11 in Shoreline, WA, USA. Cyanescentinel |
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About
Published on Apr 9, 2011 Coprinellus micaceus, the mica cap. 4/9/11 in Shoreline, WA, USA. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinellus_micaceus.html |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this fungus. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Margot Avey 8/27/2022 |
Location: Westwood Nature Center, St Louis Park MN |
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| Savannah Hanson 9/21/2018 |
Location: St. Paul, MN Found in my backyard! |
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| Alissa 9/6/2018 |
Location: Fillmore County |
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| Stephanie Segner 6/10/2018 |
Location: Hennepin County, MN Mica Cap or Coprinus micaceus or common inky cap. I found these in several places this season but these pictures were in my yard growing on a stump we pulled up last fall. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/16/2018
Last Updated: