inspired by a mushroom

Corprinus comatus is its latin name, known commonly as shaggy ink cap, or lawyer's wig. It is edible if cooked quickly but deteriorates into a flat disc, dissolving rapidly into a black inky substance.

When I was about seven years old, I found one in the garden, and, as it reminded me of a fairytale home for elves and fairies, I decided it would be a suitable subject for the classroom nature table. I left it under the sink, wrapped in newspaper. I can still remember my shock horror as I opened it up to have a look at it the next morning to find my beautiful fairy home had been replaced by a monstrous blob of glup!