Simon says: "Meet the Shaggy Inkcap"
After the first proper rains, the Shaggy Inkcap mushroom (Coprinus comatus) begins appearing across Israel’s parks, open fields, roadside verges & damp grassy patches. It's one of the most distinctive fungi you will see in early winter. It develops very quickly after rain, sometimes erupting overnight!
🔍 You can identify it by its white, cylindrical cap covered in shaggy scales & it's thin white stem. The cap gradually turns black & “melts” into an inky liquid as it matures, & the cap auto digests. This process is known as deliquescence & the “ink” helps release its spores.
🌧️ These mushrooms thrive in moist soil after rainfall & are found in both gardens & the edges of woodland, often in small 'family' groups.
🍽️ As a 'saprophytic fungus', it feeds by breaking down organic matter in the soil, helping to recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
🦊 Various insects, slugs & small mammals feed on them soon after they emerge. Because they deteriorate quickly, they are often eaten within hours.
⚠️ Although considered edible when young, identification mistakes with similar toxic species are common. NEVER eat wild fungi unless identified with absolute certainty.
📍 You can spot it all over Israel right now, after the recent rains.
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