Lawyer's Wig

There were lots of fungi to be seen today after the rain and relative warmth. This cluster of Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig) was spotted during an expedition to survey gentians. These toadstools were reasonably fresh, but on the right one is already starting to drip the black liquid that gives the group the common name of Inkcaps. Within hours they would have deliquesced (great word!) to form a black sludge that carries the spores.