Mushroom Monday: Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus)

Mushroom Monday: Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus)

Today’s Mushroom Monday mushroom is the Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus).  It’s tawny brown, bell shaped and known for its inky gills. Learn more about it in today’s TrueTreeTalk post.

Their Size

The Mica Cap’s width is ½ – 2 inches. Their stalks range from 1 – 3 inches in length with a width of ⅛ – ¼ inch. 

Their Appearance

This mushroom has a cap that starts oval and gradually expands to a bell shape, often developing a curled or tattered margin. Its color ranges from honey brown to amber, lightening with age, particularly at the edges. The surface of the cap is covered with mica-like granules that often wash away with rain or dew, and the margin is lined or grooved. The gills are initially pale, darkening to brown and eventually black, and deliquesce, turning to a black “ink.” The stem is smooth or finely granulated, white and fibrous, with a hollow interior. The flesh is soft, white to pale throughout, and the spore print is black.

Where They Can Be Found

This saprobic fungi grows in clusters on decaying wood. Mica Caps are spotted primarily in urban areas during spring, summer, and fall. These mushrooms can also be found in the woods and are widely dispersed throughout North America. 

If you liked learning about Mica Cap mushrooms (Coprinellus micaceus), check out our other Mushroom Monday posts on our TrueTreeTalk blog.  Follow us on Facebook to keep up with these and other posts.

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