About this fungus
Two-spored Inkcap is a fungus in the Psathyrellaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small, fragile inkcap that opens from egg-shaped to bell-shaped and darkens as its gills mature.
What to check
Record the substrate and cap veil under magnification. A black spore print supports an inkcap identification, but two-spored basidia must be confirmed microscopically.
Variation
The cap changes quickly as it expands and may partially dissolve. Surface colour and veil remnants can disappear with age or rain.
Lookalikes
Many small coprinoid fungi overlap almost completely in photographs. Species separation uses spores, basidia, cystidia and veil structure.
Habitat and range
Reported from nutrient-rich substrates including dung and decaying plant material. The fruit bodies are short-lived and may appear after wet weather.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
Photo: Morten Pettersen · CC BY 4.0