Species library · Mushrooms

Common Ink Cap: poisonous

Coprinopsis atramentaria

☠ Poisonous. Do not eat.What to do if poisoning is suspected

Common Ink Cap is classed as poisonous in the Forage field guide. This page helps you identify it and tell it apart from similar species. It is not a foraging guide. Have every wild mushroom checked by a qualified mushroom expert before eating it.

If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away. If someone has trouble breathing, has a seizure or is unconscious, call emergency services. Don't wait for symptoms: with some poisonings they only start hours later. Keep any leftovers of the find, they help identify it.

Usually seen from May to November in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Grassland. Can be confused with similar species.

☠ Poisonous
Common Ink Cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria)

Photo: James Lindsey · CC BY-SA 3.0

When Common Ink Cap appears

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset.

Where it grows

Common Ink Cap is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland.

Look up Common Ink Cap in the app

In the Forage app, Common Ink Cap has a full field guide entry with more photos, key features and the species it can be confused with.

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Common Ink Cap: common questions

Is Common Ink Cap poisonous?

Yes. Common Ink Cap is classed as poisonous in the Forage field guide. Do not eat it. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away, or emergency services if it is life-threatening.

When does Common Ink Cap appear?

Common Ink Cap usually appears from May to November in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather.

Where does Common Ink Cap grow?

Common Ink Cap is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland.

What can Common Ink Cap be confused with?

Toxic look-alikes: Magpie inkcap, Mower's mushroom, Mica cap. Only a confident identification tells them apart. When in doubt, have a find checked by a qualified mushroom expert.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits