What's In A Name?

There are lots of these Shaggy Ink Caps growing on our lawn at the moment. They start off almost perfectly oval and white, and gradually the gills deliquesce from the bottom up, dripping away like black ink.

Apparently they are edible. But not to be confused with the Common Ink Cap, which is poisonous if consumed with alcohol up to three days afterwards, hence - according to the website where I gleaned this fascinating information - its common name of Tippler's Bane. Hah! Tippler's Bane? Surely someone made that up?

Well, there's no way I'm going to risk eating one of these. What if I mix up shaggy with common, a sip of wine passes my lips within the next three days (it's Friday tomorrow, after all) and I'm rushed off to Accident and Emergency with the tell-tale symptoms of Tippler's Bane? I'd never be able to show my face at the school gate again!

[Jane Terry]

Urg, they are weird, that dripping is so strange! Would never want to eat one of these, shaggy or common!!! V interesting though!

[Dean Barnes]

Great picture and lovely write-up Helen. You can't be too careful!!! :-)

[Darrell Soper]

Beautiful capture of a yukky thing. I have these in my lawn and they make such a mess when mown!

[Top2042]

Great Picture Looks like It Jumped Out Of A Harry Potter Book

[Emily Robinson]

Those are some neat lookin' mushrooms! Great shot, Helen.

[Diana Moss]

I don't think that I fancy eating them !!!

[Isla Wight]

Wonderful capture - great detail, what amazing fungus - and a great story.

[Chimom]

you captured the beauty in something ugly :)

[Karen Hurd (hwy61)]

You are so funny!!!!!!! I love this shot. That 1st mushroom reminds me of how my hair looks after I am caught in the rain!

[Cherrill]

Deliquesce!! Wow what a word ...I love it! A great shot of these strange fungi....on our lawn too!

[Yoella Offir]

They look strange. Intersting.

[Elizabeth Hanna]

Wow.... what a group... and how fantastic to have the different stages. Love that photograph.

[Rachael]

They look weird, but it's kinda cool too. Thanks for the information, don't think I'd try eating them either though!

[cglist]

Very cool - we had some of theses in our yard... thanks for letting me know what they were!

[weslyn hoekstra]

really oozy looking. I like that you found a grouping that shows the different stages of drippy ooze.

[weslyn hoekstra]

Hahaha! I just read what you wrote! Thanks for the life.

[Bill Dodsworth]

Cool pic, wierd but cool!

[John Guerin]

Great shot and I am glad you will not chance a bite. Better safe than sorry.

[Yin]

Hehe

Your photo reminds me to water my new plant! ;)

[Theresa C Paige]

Wow, what a great shot. They look like they're melting right in front of the lens. Nice bit of lore too.

[Henriette Sparkes]

What a fantastic mushroom and wonderful shot of it!

[Darrell Soper]

LOL. Yep, this is the same one for sure!