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Japanese Umbrella Inkcap

Parasola plicatilis

Photo by triggsturner
Published on Project Noah
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-37.9309, 175.492

Field Notes

Description:

Small, delicate inkcap species. It was classed as Coprinus but was changed to Parasola in 2001. Cap is round starting convex and then flattening out at maturity. Heavily ribbed, the cap is a grey white with a tawny-brown 'eye' at its centre growing from 1 to 2cm in diameter. The gills start white but turn black as it matures. The stem is off white and grows up to 2-6 cm high. There is no ring on the stem.

Habitat:

A very delicate species this one was found in waste ground among grasses, and general detritus growing in a loose group of 15 individual mushrooms. Usually found in lawns and grass areas in New Zealand.

Notes:

These inkcaps are known for their very short life span - usually only a few hours. I often find them after heavy rain in the mornings. By the evening of the same day they are gone. Images show a maturing cap and another of the gills turning black. Often referred to as Pleated Inkcap. Ref: First Nature - Fungi

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

Thank you Ivan. They don't last long into the day as so delicate.

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