MycoNote

This English version was machine-translated from Ukrainian, so a few things may read a little off.

Grey shag (Coprinopsis cinerea)
Photo: This image was created by user Igor (Igor_Yevdokimov) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images.You can contact this user here. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Conditionally edible

Grey shagCoprinopsis cinerea

Under review

Updated October 3, 2026

Passport

Edibility
Conditionally edible
Season
Apr — Oct
Hymenophore
Gilled
Cap color
Grey
Size
Small (up to 5 cm)
Smell
Odorless
Reviewed
Under review

Quick answers

Where to look?

Meadow, Field

When does it appear?

Apr — Oct

Active months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

How to recognize it? Three signs

  • Cap color: Grey, Black, White
  • Cap shape: Conical, Umbonate
  • Smell: Odorless

Fruiting season

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

April – October

Description

The grey shag, known to science as Coprinopsis cinerea (formerly Coprinus cinereus), is a small gray ink cap that, like all ink caps, self-destructs as it matures, dissolving into an inky mush. It settles on dung, humus, compost and fertilized soil, which is how it got its Ukrainian name (from the word for dung). This mushroom is far better known in science than in the kitchen: thanks to the fast, synchronized development of its fruiting bodies, it is widely used as a model organism for studying fungal reproduction and fruiting body formation.

In Ukraine, the grey shag occurs on pastures, in vegetable gardens, on compost heaps, near livestock farms and on fertilized soil all over the country. It appears quickly, often in groups, throughout the warm season — from spring to autumn, especially after rain in warm weather; within a day or two the fruiting bodies manage to grow, open and dissolve.

In terms of edibility, the grey shag is a conditionally edible mushroom. Young, unopened fruiting bodies are theoretically edible, but the mushroom has almost no culinary value: it is small, thin-fleshed and digests itself very quickly, so it has to be cooked immediately after picking. Because it grows on dung and compost, and because of the general rule not to combine ink caps with alcohol, most foragers pass it by. It is more of a scientific and natural curiosity than an edible mushroom.

Cap

The cap of the grey shag is small — from 1 to 5 centimeters tall, at first egg-shaped-oval or bell-shaped; with age it opens out and dissolves into inky liquid at the margin. The surface is gray, ash-gray, often covered with small whitish scales or a mealy coating — remnants of the veil. When young the cap is paler; as it matures it grays and blackens from the edges. The whole cap is thin and pleated-striate.

Hymenophore

The hymenophore is gilled. The gills are free and very crowded, whitish at first, then quickly blacken and dissolve together with the cap margin into inky liquid (autolysis). The spore print is black. Rapid self-digestion of the gills into ink is a characteristic feature of all ink caps.

Stem

The stem is thin, hollow, white or whitish gray, up to 10 centimeters tall, smooth, often with a slightly thickened base. There is usually no ring, or only a trace of the veil remains. There is no volva. The stem is fragile and thin, typical of small ink caps.

Flesh

The flesh is extremely thin, grayish or whitish, with no particular taste. Because of rapid autolysis it does not last long: within a few hours of maturity the fruiting body dissolves. That is why only very young, unopened specimens are fit to eat, and even those have almost no culinary value.

Smell

The smell is faint and nondescript, mushroomy or slightly musty. The scent is not a defining feature; the mushroom is recognized by its gray, pleated cap that dissolves into ink, its black gills and its growth on dung, compost and fertilized soil.

›Scientific synonyms (3)

Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff.) Gray (1821), Agaricus cinereus Schaeff. (1774), Coprinus macrorhizus (Pers.) Rea (1922)

Lookalikes

× Conditionally edible
Common ink cap
Coprinopsis atramentaria
× Edible
Shaggy ink cap
Coprinus comatus

Related species

Mushrooms of the same genus and habitat — to study side by side and never mix up.

Agaricus comtulus (Agaricus comtulus)

Agaricus comtulus

Edible
Agaricus subperonatus (Agaricus subperonatus)

Agaricus subperonatus

Edible
Agaricus tabularis (Agaricus tabularis)

Agaricus tabularis

Edible
Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Button mushroom

Agaricus bisporus

Edible
Field mushroom (Agaricus campestris)

Field mushroom

Agaricus campestris

Edible
Giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea)

Giant puffball

Calvatia gigantea

Edible
Macro mushroom (Agaricus crocodilinus)

Macro mushroom

Agaricus crocodilinus

Edible
Meadow puffball (Lycoperdon pratense)

Meadow puffball

Lycoperdon pratense

Edible

Frequently asked questions

Is Grey shag edible or poisonous?
Grey shag is conditionally edible. Before eating any wild mushroom, always double-check current information in reliable sources and consult an expert.
Does Grey shag have gills or pores?
The spore-bearing surface (hymenophore) of Grey shag: gilled.
What does the cap of Grey shag look like?
The cap of the grey shag is small — from 1 to 5 centimeters tall, at first egg-shaped-oval or bell-shaped; with age it opens out and dissolves into inky liquid at the margin.
What does the stem of Grey shag look like?
The stem is thin, hollow, white or whitish gray, up to 10 centimeters tall, smooth, often with a slightly thickened base. There is usually no ring, or only a trace of the veil remains. There is no volva.
What do Grey shag smell and taste like?
The smell is faint and nondescript, mushroomy or slightly musty. The scent is not a defining feature; the mushroom is recognized by its gray, pleated cap that… Taste: mild.
Where does Grey shag grow?
Typical habitats: Meadow, Field.
When should you pick Grey shag?
It fruits in: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
What can Grey shag be confused with?
Grey shag can be mistaken for: Common ink cap, Shaggy ink cap. Study the distinguishing features carefully — detailed comparisons are in the “Lookalikes” section.
How do you cook Grey shag?
Grey shag can be fried, boiled, pickled and dried. Before cooking, it's recommended to boil it for 10–15 minutes and drain the water.
Can you dry Grey shag?
Yes, Grey shag is well suited to drying and freezing. Dried mushrooms keep their aroma and work well in soups, sauces and fillings.
What is the scientific name of Grey shag?
The Latin name is Coprinopsis cinerea. It belongs to the genus Coprinopsis, family Psathyrellaceae.

Sources

  • [1]Вікіпедія (українська)
  • [2]Атлас грибів України, Зеров Д.К. (1979)
  • [3]MycoBank Database
  • [4]Index Fungorum
  • [5]GBIF
  • [6]iNaturalist Ukraine