Coprinus comatus
Coprinus comatus
Common Names: Shaggy Mane, Shaggy Ink Cap
Type: Gourmet
It’s definitely possible to cultivate Shaggy mane, but very few growers do.
That’s because, in as little one day after harvest, the Shaggy Mane will “deliquesce” into a pile of black goop. Kind of hard to sell that at the grocery store!
When fresh, however, Shaggy Ink Caps are a gourmet edible, and best added to soups and stews.
Shaggy Mane can be cultivated on manure-based substrates, in bags or trays. It can also be grown outdoors in straw beds.
Foragers often find wild Shaggy Mane fruiting on well-fertilized lawns and public parks. It has a distinctive “shaggy appearance” and is relatively easy to identify- although when young it can be confused with other poisonous species.