Magpie Fungus

Description

The magpie fungus is a slender mushroom with a tall, white, hollow stem (10–20 cm) and a cap that is egg-shaped, then bell-shaped, dark greyish-brown, covered with silvery-white patches of the veil that resemble a magpie's plumage. Young fruiting bodies are almost entirely white. The gills are crowded, white at first, then reddish, finally black. The mature fruiting body dissolves into a black liquid.

It grows among fallen leaves in forests, especially beech forests, less often under oaks and hornbeams. In Poland it is rare and is listed on the Red List of fungi (status V — vulnerable), although it is not legally protected.

It can be confused with the shaggy ink cap. It is regarded as poisonous and causes digestive disorders. Do not collect it for eating; a rare species is better left in the forest.

Identification features

Cap

When mature, diameter 3–7 cm, height 7–12 cm (according to some descriptions up to 8 cm wide). Egg-shaped at first, then bell-shaped, finally the margin rolls outwards. Surface very dark, greyish-brown, glossy, covered with silvery-white fibrils or patches of the universal veil, which break up into spots as the cap expands (the effect of a magpie's pied plumage). In very young fruiting bodies the cap is white. Margin serrated; the mature fruiting body dissolves into a black liquid.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills free or slightly attached, crowded to very crowded, white at first, then reddish, finally black and dissolving.

Stem

Height 10–20 cm (according to some descriptions 12–20 (–30) cm), diameter 0.7–1.5 cm, cylindrical, hollow and not very sturdy, with a bulbous base (according to some descriptions), slightly narrowing towards the top. Surface white or whitish, flaky, scaly or finely fibrous. No ring described.

Flesh

Whitish, fibrous, watery. According to some descriptions it can have an unpleasant smell (of naphthalene) and an unpleasant taste. Do not taste it.

Spore print and spores

Spore print black. Spores ellipsoid, smooth, dark brown, with a central germ pore. Size approx. 13–19 × 9–13 µm (descriptions give different ranges).

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Saprotroph; grows among fallen leaves in forests, especially beech forests, less often under oaks and hornbeams.

Distribution. Europe (from Great Britain and France to Poland, Hungary and Romania, south to Spain, Italy and Greece), North America (rare), Africa, South-East Asia, Australia. Rare in Poland: Wojewoda in 2003 reported 7 localities, newer ones are given by the online fungi atlas. It is listed on the Red List of Plants and Fungi of Poland (status V — vulnerable; 2006 list). Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. A forest saprotroph; fruiting bodies usually in autumn (the exact period is not given).

What can it be confused with?

• Coprinus comatus (shaggy ink cap) — Sometimes confused with the magpie fungus; detailed differences — no data.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• The epithet picacea comes from the magpie (Pica pica) and refers to the pied, black-and-white look of the cap.
• Wojewoda in 2003 reported only 7 localities of the species for Poland.
• The mature fruiting body dissolves into a black liquid (autolysis), like other ink caps; this is where the English name "inkcap" comes from.
• According to some descriptions it is common in Europe and Australia, and rare in North America.