Family: Coprinaceae (Ink Caps)

Fungi:> Basidiomycota:> Basidiomycetes:> Agaricales:> Coprinaceae:> Coprinus, Psathyrella.

Genus: Coprinus

These agarics have black spore and in many the cap is tall and narrow with crowded gills. Spores are shed at the margin first then gradually move up towards the strip. As this happens the depleted part of the cap dissolves into an inky fluid. This process of self-destruction continues till all that remains is a black stained stem.	Other websites
	- Coprinus-site Kees   Uljé Mycology Fungi

Species: Coprinus atramentarius (Bull. ex Fr.) Fr.
Common Name: Common ink cap Found: Grassy places, from buried wood Substrate: Wood Spores: Black	Height: 150 mm Width: 80 mm Season: Autumn Edible: Yes, no alcohol for 48 hours after ingestion.

Species: Coprinus comatus
Common Name: Shaggy ink cap Found: Grassy places Substrate: Ground Spores: Black	Height: 150 mm Width: 80 mm Season: Autumn Edible: Yes

Species: Coprinus disseminatus (Pers. ex Fr.) S. F. Gray Cream coloured when fresh changes to light Grey as it ages. It's not as melting as other members of this family.
Common Name: None Found: Podocarp Forest Substrate: Growing from wood in large numbers. Spores: Black	Height: 40 mm Width: 10 mm Season: Late summer through to late spring. Edible: Unknown

Species: Coprinus lagopus (Fries) Fries The cap margin becomes recurved and almost transparent as the spores are shed. There is very little self-destruction of the cap with age.
Common Name: Woolly Inky Cap Found: Wood chip gardens Substrate: From soil, forest floor or waste land and Wood chip Spores: Black	Height: 100 mm Width: 35 mm Season: Throughout the year after rain. Edible: No

Species: Coprinus micaceus (Bull. ex. Fr)Fr. Has a creamy or fawn cap with glistening particles over the surface on young fruit bodies. These disappear or wash off with age.
Common Name: Mica ink-cap, Glistening ink-cap Found: My Front Lawn Substrate: Grows from wood in clusters Spores: Black	Height: 100 mm Width: 50 mm Season: Any time of the year after rain. Edible: Yes

Species: Coprinus plicatilis (Curt.: Fries) Fries A delicate species that last less then a day. Found singly or in small groups after rain.
Common Name: None Found: Grass areas Substrate: Ground Spores: Black	Height: 75 mm Width: 20 mm Season: Autumn. Edible: Unknown

Species: Coprinus stercoreus
Common Name: None Found: Mixed Forest Substrate: Dog pooh Spores: Black	Height: 25 mm Width: 8 mm Season: Autumn Edible: No

Unidentified
The fungi below are those that I have been unable to identify beyond there genus. This maybe due to me miss understanding the keys or a species that has not yet been described (named).

Species: Coprinus laanii Kits. van Wav ? An unknown ink cap still in its button stage.
Common Name: None Found: Mixed Forest Substrate: Growing from wood. Spores: Black	Height: 35 mm Width: 30 mm Season: Summer after rain. Edible: Unknown

Species: Coprinus sp. This species is very similar to Coprinus lagopus I am not yet convinced that if this is the case or not.
Common Name: Ink Caps Found: Fern Gully Substrate: Buried Wood Spores: Black	Height: 100 mm Width: 50 mm Season: Spring Edible: No

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