Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers.
(Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesCoprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
GenusCoprinus (inkcaps)
FamilyAGARICACEAE (mushrooms, dapperlings and parasols, puffballs and bird’s-nests)
OrderAGARICALES (mushrooms and toadstools)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig) :
1: Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
21 Oct 2005 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
group growing on edge of old runway . Photos: Group in weak sunshine, ring, LS, central strand
Image 1: Fruitbody - cap LS - in situImage 2: Fruitbody - cap LS - lain downImage 3: Fruitbody - LS - lain downImage 4: Group - in situImage 5: Group - in situ (2)Image 6: Group - in situ - close-upImage 7: Stipe base showing ring - close-upImage 8: Stipe - LS - apexImage 9: Stipe - LS - baseImage 10: Stipe - LS - mid-sectionImage 11: Stipe - LS - mid-section showing central strand
2: Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
7 Oct 2001 OSGR: ST88 51° 40’ N, 2° 10’ W Vice County: East Glos (VC 33) England
Image 1: Cap apexImage 2: Cap marginImage 3: Fruitbodies - side views
3: Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
18 Oct 1978 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
Image 1: Fruitbodies - side view - in situ
4: Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
2 Oct 1971 OSGR: TG10 52° 40’ N, 1° 10’ E Vice County: East Norfolk (VC 27) England
Young inkcap, on lawn
Image 1: Fruitbody - side view - in situ
5: Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
29 Sep 1968 OSGR: TQ11 50° 50’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Young inkcap, on lawn
Image 1: Fruitbody - side view - in situ

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Andrews, A. 2013 Coprinus comatus Field Mycology Vol 14 (4): 134.
Redhead, S.A. 2001 Bully for Coprinus - a story of manure, minutiae and molecules Field Mycology Vol 2 (4): 118-126.

Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap, Lawyer’s Wig)

The Lawyer’s Wig or Shaggy Inkcap is a large toadstool growing on soil, in grassland and on rubbish dumps. It is very common on new lawns and is found throughout the British Isles.

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