Coprinus comatus
Coprinus comatus (pronunciation: /kɒˈpraɪnəs kəˈmeɪtəs/), also known as the shaggy ink cap or lawyer's wig, is a common fungus often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas.
Etymology
The genus name Coprinus is derived from the Greek word kopros, meaning "dung", referring to the habitat of many of its members. The species name comatus is Latin for "hairy" or "shaggy", which describes the appearance of the young fruit bodies.
Description
The cap of Coprinus comatus is white, and it has scales—hence the common name "shaggy ink cap". The gills are initially white, then pink, then turn black and secrete a black liquid filled with spores (hence the "ink cap" name). This mushroom is unusual because it will turn black and dissolve itself in a matter of hours after being picked or depositing spores.
Edibility
When young it is an excellent edible mushroom provided that it is eaten soon after being collected (it keeps very badly because of the autodigestion of its gills and cap). If long-term storage is desired, sauteing or simmering until done will allow these mushrooms to be stored in a refrigerator for several days or frozen. Processing must be done whether for eating or storage within four to six hours of harvest to prevent undesirable changes to the mushroom.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Coprinus comatus
- Wikipedia's article - Coprinus comatus
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski