The mycologist's dog

Casey is very patient when I stop to examine, photograph or pick fungi on our walks.

Here we have come across a flush of Coprinus or Coprinellus micaceus growing on the bark of a tree beside the river. The dense clusters on logs or around tree stumps look like an illustration to a fairy tale book. These fragile little mushrooms often carry a delicate bloom of shiny particles as if they had been sprinkled with fine salt hence they are known as Glistening Inkcaps or Mica Inkcaps.

Like other inkcaps, once they reach maturity the caps start to turn black and melt away in a process of autodigestion which spreads the spores. They are edible, but you really have to pick them and cook them without delay or the deliquescence will beat you to it.

Casey doesn't eat shrooms but he enjoys our rambles in the woods. It's good to be back in the damp depths of the quiet valley.