Everyone is familiar with this mushroom that grows on our lawns in the early autumn cold 1 2. It is both detested and appreciated. Lovers of perfect lawns hurry to mow it down, but this just spreads the spores to other parts of the yard. If the work is done by contractors, the spores travel to neighbours’ yards.

This mushroom does not keep for long, so buttons should be cooked or processed within a day or two of picking 2 4. Unlike other Inky Caps, they can be consumed with alcohol. The mushroom’s habitat, cylindrical greyish-white cap and upturned scales serve to identify it with certainty 3 4.

The stem is hollow 4. Note that the young button on the left is perfect, while the example to the right shows that cap decay is already underway, making at least the lower part unfit for consumption. Decay begins as soon as the edge of the cap detaches from the ring at the stem’s base, just above the bulb.

The photo 6 shows the various stages of cap decay. Only the fruit body on the left retains its quality. The later photos show the end of the life cycle. The Shaggy Mane is prolific, but more suited to personal use than commercial use.

Photos: Fernand Miron.