Shaggy Mane - Coprinus comatus

Synonyms: Coprinus comatus, the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig

Easy to identify, often growing in massive quantities. Cap 4-10 (15 )cm high by 3-4(5)cm thick, dingy brown at first, soon white. Growing in the late summer and fall throughout the temperate regions of the world. The mushroom contains plenty of potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc and niacin, but only little sodium; in addition, 20 free amino acids have been proven to be present in its proteins, among which are present all of the 8 essential amino acids (which the human body cannot produce by itself and therefore have to be ingested additionally)! Coprinus comatus contains the polysaccharide fucogalactan, great quantities of lectins and L-ergothioneine.