The Ink Cap fungus in Rochdale cemetery

Coprinus atramentarius (Bull.: Fr.) one of the Ink cap fungi growing in Rochdale cemetery today. (Polish czernidłak pospolity)

Common, spring-fall, clustered in forests, gardens, parks in places rich with organic debris; always? connected with decayed wood. This was found clustered in a flower bed recently covered with freshly cut woodchippings.

Although edible it is not advisable to eat it. The mushrooms contain coprine, a toxin similar to disulfiram, [bis(diethylthiocarbonyl)disulfide] the ingredient in the drug Antabuse, given to alcoholics. Coprine is unusual amino acid, a derivative of glutamic acid, which converts to cyclopropanone hydrate in the human body. Like Antabuse, the Ink Cap produces no ill effects -- unless one consumes alcohol, which will trigger nausea, vomiting, rash, dizziness, and so on.

So in theory , the Ink Cap is a safe to eat if no alcohol is consumed for about 5 days. However, alcohol "consumption" can be as little as smelling rubbing alcohol or perfume! Best advice is not to eat it.

A great deal of information / photographs to help identification / sightings / records are available at Rochdale Field Naturalists website.