Common ink capCoprinopsis atramentaria

The mushroom itself is technically edible and not poisonous — but only if you avoid alcohol for 72 hours before, during and after eating it. Otherwise a strong disulfiram-like reaction sets in: hot flushes, palpitations, nausea, headache. In households where someone drinks, it's best not to pick this mushroom at all. It's safer to pick the white, which is compatible with alcohol.

The reaction starts 20-40 minutes after alcohol: hot flushing of the face and chest, palpitations, tachycardia, nausea, headache, sweating, fear. It lasts 2-4 hours. It is not fatal for a healthy person, but very unpleasant. For people with cardiovascular disease it is potentially dangerous. The effect of coprine lingers for UP TO 3 DAYS after eating the mushroom.

Lie down, drink plenty of water and don't panic — the reaction will pass within 2-4 hours. If the symptoms are severe (strong tachycardia, chest pain, loss of consciousness, a drop in blood pressure), immediately call an ambulance (112 or your local emergency number). There is no special home remedy for this reaction; treatment is symptomatic and given by medical staff. Do not drink any alcohol for at least 3 days after eating the mushroom — it can make the reaction worse or bring it back.

On fertile soils, on compost, along roads, in parks, on roadsides, on rich compost heaps, in gardens. It's a mushroom of human-shaped landscapes — you'll hardly ever find it in the forest. It often grows in large groups near a source of nutrients (compost, manure, humus).

Throughout the forest and forest-steppe zones and across human-shaped landscapes: the Carpathians, Prykarpattia, Polissia, the Forest-Steppe, parks and vegetable gardens in every city. In the steppe — in damp spots near settlements. One of the most widespread synanthropic mushrooms.

May–November, in several flushes after heavy rain. The first in May–June, the second in August, the third in September–October. It tolerates the first frosts. In a warm autumn — until November.

With the shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus). The critical difference: the shaggy ink cap has an elongated, egg-shaped white cap with fluffy scales and a distinct movable ring on the stem; the common ink cap has a gray-brown, bell-shaped cap with radial grooves and NO distinct ring. The shaggy ink cap is compatible with alcohol — so for a festive table, pick the shaggy ink cap.

Other ink caps (Coprinellus micaceus, Coprinopsis lagopus and others) are mostly smaller (2-4 cm) and grow on wood. The common ink cap is bigger (4-8 cm) and grows on soil in groups. If you do need to put one in your basket, take photos and ask in an identification guide, because coprine occurs in several species of the genus Coprinopsis. When in doubt, don't drink alcohol for 3 days.