Common Ink Cap
Distribution
Northern Hemisphere (widespread across Europe, North America, Asia); also found in Australia
Habitat
Clusters associated with buried wood; grassland, meadows, disturbed ground, open terrain; urban habitats including vacant lots, lawns, and parks; rich soil near willow or mountain ash trees
Season
Spring to autumn (peak in late summer and autumn), especially after rainfall
Toxin Type
Coprine
Symptoms
When combined with alcohol (even hours or days later): facial reddening/flushing, severe nausea, vomiting, malaise, agitation, palpitations, headache, tachycardia, hypotension. Symptoms appear 20 minutes to 2 hours after alcohol consumption. Edible when no alcohol is consumed.
Hallucinogenic Effects
No visual or hallucinogenic effects. The reaction is a disulfiram-like (Antabuse-like) response causing intense physical discomfort. The gills auto-digest (deliquesce) into black ink-like liquid - a striking visual process called auto-digestion/autolysis.