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How To Identify A Shaggy Mane Mushroom?
Shaggy Mane Mushrooms (Coprinus comatus) are huge, consumable Mushrooms that are easy to identify.
They have a long, cylindrical shape when they are young and expand and become wavy after maturing.
Furthermore, the name Shaggy Mane comes from their shaggy appearance of overlapping scales.
These Mushrooms are white to pale brown in color.
However, they have a robust and earthy odor and grow in clusters on soil, wood chips, and manure.
Additionally, here are some ways to differentiate Shaggy Mane Mushrooms from other look likes.
- Cap color: The Shaggy Manes are white at young and turn black at maturity, while other look-alikes may have color variations.
- Gills Placement: Gills of Shaggy Manes are not attached to the stem, while the gills of other look likes have attached gills.
- Cap Texture: The Shaggy texture of their caps distinguishes them from other look-alikes.
Pro Tip!
The structure of the Mushroom Caps often helps to separate the poisonous Mushrooms from the safer ones.
You can see that as an example in Deadly Caps Vs other Mushrooms!
Shaggy Mane Mushrooms (Poisonous & Safe) Look-Alikes
Although the Shaggy Manes are edible, there are other edible & non-edible look-alikes of these Mushrooms.
1. Common Ink Cap
Common Ink Cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) is also consumable but can cause adverse reactions when consumed with alcohol.
Consumption of alcohol after eating Common Ink Cap can cause nausea, vomiting, and heart palpitations.
Common Ink Cap and Shaggy Mane Mushrooms are large, cylindrical Mushrooms belonging to the same family.
2. Magpie Fungus
Magpie fungus (Coprinopsis picacea) is non-consumable and can cause stomach disorders.
Its appearance resembles Shaggy Mane Mushrooms but lacks its shaggy scales.
Furthermore, mature caps are dark grayish brown with white strands.
3. Green-spored Lepiota
Green-spored Lepiota (Chlorophyllum molybdites) is a non-edible Mushroom that can cause severe gastrointestinal disorders.
It can be mistaken for Shaggy Manes when young, but at maturity, it looks nothing like the Shaggy Manes.
4. Snowy Ink Cap
Snowy Ink Cap (Coprinopsis nivea) is an edible Mushroom, and its gills turn black and release a spore-containing liquid at maturity.
These are good sources of protein and fiber and have a slightly sweet flavor when cooked, exactly like Shaggy Manes.
5. Wooly Ink Cap
Wooly Ink Cap (Coprinopsis lagopus) is a small, delicate Mushroom that grows in clusters on soil, wood chips, and manure.
The color of this Mushroom is white to pale brown, and it secretes a spore-bearing liquid at maturity.
Wooly Ink Cap and Shaggy Manes belong to the same family and appear similarly.
From Editorial Team
Conclusion!
Although Shaggy Mane Mushrooms are non-poisonous, they have some poisonous look-alikes.
So, do not mistake those non-edible look-alikes for edible Shaggy Mane Mushrooms.
