Magpie inkcap Coprinopsis picacea
poisonous
Black-and-white patterned cap, also contains coprine and is poisonous.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The common ink cap is a grey ink cap that dissolves into a black liquid as it matures. It is poisonous together with alcohol; even without alcohol it causes gastrointestinal upset.
SeasonApril to November
Spore printblack
FamilyPsathyrellaceae
- Cap. The cap is 3 to 8 cm wide, grey to brownish grey, at first egg-shaped, later upright.
- Underside. The gills are whitish, then black and liquefying.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is whitish and hollow, with no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. The smell is unremarkable. Never taste it.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is thin and whitish.
Lookalikes
Contains coprine, which causes severe intolerance with alcohol; young specimens are mistaken for the lawyers' wig.
Glistening inkcap Coprinellus micaceus
edible with restrictionsSmaller, brown with glistening particles, edible with restrictions, and only when young.
Lawyers' wig Coprinus comatus
edible
Long, scaly white cap, edible when young and fresh.
View on the mapSide by side
| Common ink cap | Magpie inkcap | Glistening inkcap | Lawyers' wig | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | grey, 3 to 8 cm | black-and-white patterned | brown, glistening | white scaly, cylindrical |
| Underside | liquefying gills | liquefying gills | brown gills | white gills |
| Stem | whitish, hollow | slender | thin | slender, hollow |
| Flesh | thin | thin | thin, fragile | firm when young, later deliquescing |
| Edibility | Poisonous | poisonous | edible with restrictions | edible |
Habitat & Season
Humus-rich, nutrient-rich soils. Lowlands to low mountain ranges.
Host trees
On roots and stumps of deciduous trees.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Almost all year round, peaking in autumn.
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Poisonous mushroom: do not eat it. If you suspect someone has eaten it, call the emergency number and the poison centre immediately.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
Salzburg: Collecting poisonous mushrooms is banned, except single specimens for identification.
Poisoning
ToxinCoprine and related compounds.
SyndromeCoprine syndrome (alcohol intolerance), plus gastrointestinal syndrome.
SymptomsWith alcohol: facial flushing, throbbing, nausea, racing heart. Without alcohol: gastrointestinal upset.
OnsetWith alcohol up to 5 days after the mushroom; gastrointestinal often a few hours.
What to do now: This is an emergency, even if there are no symptoms yet. Go to a hospital immediately or call 999 / 112 and the poison centre (NHS 111, England). Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear, and do not be misled by an apparent improvement. Do not induce vomiting. Keep leftover mushrooms, cleaning scraps and vomit, and tell everyone who shared the meal.
Frequently asked questions
Why must you avoid alcohol?
Coprine blocks the breakdown of alcohol and causes severe intolerance, even days later.
How does it differ from the lawyers' wig?
The lawyers' wig is white and scaly and cylindrical when young; the common ink cap is grey and broader.
What should I do if I suspect poisoning?
Call the emergency number and the poison centre; do not drink alcohol.
Related species
- Sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasciculare
- Fly agaric Amanita muscaria
- Devil's bolete Rubroboletus satanas
- Yellow-stainer Agaricus xanthodermus
- The sickener Russula emetica
- Spotted tricholoma Tricholoma pardinum
Sources
Photo credits
- Photo: James Lindsey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Magpie inkcap: Photo: Strobilomyces · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Lawyers' wig: Photo: Wildfeuer · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.