Coprinopsis lagopus

Coprinopsis lagopus (Fr.) Redhead, Vilgalys & Moncalvo (2001) (Syn: Agaricus lagopus Fr. (1821); Coprinus lagopus (Fr.) Fr. (1838) …..); 
 

Coprinopsis lagopus is a species of fungus in the Psathyrellaceae family. Until 2001, the species was known as Coprinus lagopus; advances in the understanding of phylogenetic relationships between the various coprinoid species led to a major reorganization of that genus.[1]  

It is a delicate and short-lived fungus, the fruit bodies lasting only a few hours before dissolving into a black ink – a process called deliquescence.[2] The vague resemblance of the young fruit body to the paw of a white rabbit has earned this species the common name harefoot mushroom.[3]
The fruit body size of Coprinopsis lagopus can vary tremendously. This fungus gives rise to very small fruit bodies (known as dwarf fruit-bodies), some of which are less than one-hundredth the size of the larger ones. In a series of experiments, Arthur Henry Reginald Buller grew spores on horse dung and noted a large range of size variation: the smallest specimen having a stem length of 1 mm and cap diameter of 0.75 mm, while the largest specimen had a stem length of 184 mm and cap diameter of 20 mm.[4] Buller noted that the dwarf fruit-bodies are fully functional, producing and liberating spores in a manner identical with normal ones. The great variation in size has led some authors to erroneously name the dwarf fruit-bodies as new species. For example, George Edward Massee considered the dwarfs to be a new species, Coprinus radiatus.[2] In general, dwarf fruit-bodies have stem lengths from 1–10 mm tall and cap of 0.75–3 mm in diameter, while large specimens have stems that are 130–185 mm tall and cap diameters of 25–40 mm. The thickness of the stem in the larger specimens is typically 4–6 mm thick, up to 0.8 mm thick at the club-shaped or bulbous base.[5]
The color of the cap surface is pale to very dark-brown at center beneath the whitish to silvery grey veil, but becomes paler towards the margin. As the mushroom matures, the shape of the cap becomes more conical or convex, and finally flattens out, with edges curved upward. The veil is initially whitish, then turns to a silvery grey or grey-brown; it eventually splits up, becoming hairy (fibrillose). The gills are freely attached to the stem, very thin and crowded closely together. Initially the color of the gills is white, then progresses to grayish brown then to black as the spores mature. In maturity the gill edges dissolve (deliquesce) into a black liquid.[6] These mushrooms are evanescent, lasting only last a few hours before death;[7] the autodigestive process is enhanced in humid environments. The stem is whitish in color, and is hollow, hairy (flocculose) over the whole surface but especially at lower part, and becomes smooth (glabrous) with age. The spore print is violet-black.
Coprinopsis lagopus grows solitary or in groups on wood chips, compost heaps, vegetable refuse, or horse dung, from autumn to mid-winter. It has a widespread distribution throughout the world. 
The related species Coprinopsis lagopides (P. Karst) Redhead, Vilgalys & Montcalvo is similar in appearance, but more typically grows on a substrates like humus, or burnt or charred wood; it also tends to deliquesce more quickly and completely than C. lagopus. C. lagopides may be distinguished microscopically by its smaller spores (6–9 by 5–7 µm) that are roughly spherical or ovoid in shape, rather than elliptical as in C. lagopus.[5] 
 
(From Wikipedia on 27.7.13)
 

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DV – 03JUL10 – 1008 :: upturned umbrella : Attachments (4). 6 posts by 4 authors.
… mushroom for ID please.
Date/Time : July 3, 2010 at 10.08am IST
Location Place : near Lion’s Point, Lonavala
Altitude : about 762 m (above mean sea level)
GPS : around 18°41’56.00″N, 73°23’12.79″E
Habitat : wild, damp forest floor, among small herbs
Type : deciduous forest clearing
Habit : mushroom
Height : about 4 inches
Size : diameter, about 0.5″
Looks like a caprinus species
resembles very close to caprinus lagopus ?

Indeed it closely matches …many thanks …
Will yet wait for more of mushroom knowers … after all, these are tricky with their spores and gills.
Personally, very certain you have provided the match.

… on surfing in search for more info, found that the spelling Caprinus may not be widely used OR could even be a typo widely used.
Google suggests Coprinus, and thus the ID could be Coprinus lagopus.
Let us wait for comments.

The mushroom in the attached photo is Coprinus lagopus
the reason is hairy stipe and pileus; inverted umbrella like concave pileus and black spore which can be seen in your photo from the mature gills.
More info from http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinopsis_lagopus.html

Not but least exceptional photography

nice foto, never seen this before!

 

 

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