Ink Cap - Coprinopsis sp.

Delicate, gray, pleated cap with whitish fibrils.

Ink caps have gills that partially liquefy as the mushroom matures. While the "ink" produced from the liquefying gills can actually be used as writing ink, it has a much more important function from the perspective of the mushroom. Liquefying the gills is actually a very clever strategy for efficient spore dispersal. The gills liquefy from the bottom up as the spores mature. As this happens, the cap peels up and the maturing spores are thus always kept in the best position for catching the wind for dispersal.

Habitat: Meadow/pond edge

comments (3)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

"Liquefying the gills is actually a very clever strategy for efficient spore dispersal."

I still don't understand why this is more efficient? Posted 2 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  It's because the gills liquefy as the spores mature. The liquefied gills cause the cap to curl up, which causes the mature spores on the gills to always be facing out where they can be picked up by the wind. Then, the cap keeps curling as more gills get liquefied thus allowing the next round of matured spores to be exposed. Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Getting it now, thanks :) Posted 2 years ago

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