Coprinellus micaceus (Bull.) Vilgalys, Hopple, & Johnson
Taxon 50(1): 234. 2001.

Photo: Young sporocarps

Common Name: mica cap

Synonym: Coprinus micaceus (Bull.) Fr.

• Pileus

  Cap 2-5 cm broad, cylindrical to oval, becoming conic, finally campanulate; yellow-brown, conspicuously striate to corrugate, covered with evanescent glistening granules; margin becoming torn, sometimes upturned in age, deliquescing towards the center; flesh thin, soft, white.

• Lamellae

  Gills notched, close, white turning pinkish, finally black.

• Stipe

  Stipe 1.5-5 cm long, 2-5 mm thick, white, hollow, equal; veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 7.5-10 x 3-5 µm, elliptical, smooth with an apical germ pore. Spore print black.

• Habitat

  Typically fruiting in cespitose clusters near stumps or rotting wood, from fall through spring.

• Edibility

  Edible, of good flavor, but little texture.

• Comments

  Coprinellus micaceus gets its common name from the glistening particles that cover the young, developing caps. These soon wash or wear off. However, it is still easily recognized by the yellow-brown caps, clustered fruiting habit, deliquescing gills, and tendency to fruit near rotting wood. Coprinopsis atramentarius is a larger mushroom, which also tends to fruit in clusters, but it has a silky grey-brown cap.

• References

  Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
  Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1995). Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 4: Agarics (2nd Part). Entolomataceae, Pluteaceae, Amanitaceae, Agaricaceae, Coprinaceae, Strophariaceae. Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland. 368 p.
  Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
  Keirle, M.R., Hemmes, D.E. & Desjardin, D.E. (2004). Agaricales of the Hawaiian Islands. 8. Agaricaceae: Coprinus and Podaxis; Psathyrellaceae: Coprinopsis, Coprinellus and Parasola. Fungal Diversity 15: 33-124. (PDF)
  Knudsen, H. & Vesterholt, J. ed. (2008). Funga Nordica: Agaricoid, boletoid and cyphelloid genera. NSiegel, N., Mohatt, K. & Trudell, S. (2025). Mushrooms of Alaska. Timber Press: New York, NY. 572 p.ordsvamp: Copenhagen, Denmark. 965 p. (PDF)
  Knudsen, H. & Vesterholt, J. ed. (2012). Funga Nordica: Agaricoid, boletoid, clavarioid, cyphelloid and gastroid genera. Vol. 2. Nordsvamp: Copenhagen, Denmark. 572 p.
  Lindsey, J.P. & Gilbertson, R.L. (1978). Basidiomycetes that Decay Aspen in North America. J. Cramer: Vaduz. 406 p.
  Noordeloos, M.E., Kuyper, T.W. & Vellinga, E.C. (2005). Flora Agaricina Neerlandica—Critical monographs on the families of agarics and boleti occurring in the Netherlands. Volume 6. Coprinaceae & Bolbitiaceae. Taylor & Francis: Boca Raton, FL. 227 p.
  Orton, P.D. & Watling, R. (1979). British Fungus Flora: Agarics and Boleti. Vol 2. Coprinaceae: Coprinus. Royal Botanic Garden: Edinburgh, Scotland. 149 p.
  Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
  
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p. (PDF)

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  Main Photo
  • Michael Wood: Coprinellus micaceus (CP) — rain often washes off the "mica"
  • Michael Wood: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • Christian Schwarz: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Coprinellus micaceus (CP) — Deliquescing sporocarps
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • John Kirkpatrick: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Coprinellus micaceus (CP)
  • MushroomExpert.com: Coprinellus micaceus (D & CP)
  • Urban Mushrooms: Coprinellus micaceus (D & CP)
  • Wikipedia: Coprinellus micaceus (D & CP)
  • Pilze, Pilze, Pilze: Coprinus micaceus (CP)
  • Coprinus Site: Coprinus micaceus (D & CP)
  • Hidden Forest: Coprinus micaceus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 348 (D & P) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • Jordan: p. 233 (D & CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • Lincoff: p. 600 (D), plate 42 (CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • McKenny et al.: p. 156 (D), p. 157 (CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • Miller: sp. 190 (D & CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • Phillips: p. 205 (D & CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • Smith: sp. 220 (D & CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 177 (D & CP) [as Coprinus micaceus]
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)