Family: Psathyrellaceae Genus: Coprinopsis

Species: Coprinopsis lagopus

Common Name(s): hare’s foot inkcap, woolly-footed mushroom, harefoot mushroom; (Spanish) hongo pie de liebre, coprino de pie libre

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Coprinopsis lagopus is not actually a flower, but looks pretty enough when fully open to be perceived as one! This fungus, commonly known as the hare’s foot inkcap or the woolly-footed mushroom, is found in temperate regions across North America, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. Like other fungi, it reproduces by producing spores rather than flowers and seeds. The reproductive structures of hare’s foot inkcap consist of mushroom “fruiting bodies” which bear spores on gills underneath the cap. The fruit bodies last only a few hours before dissolving into a black ink – a process called deliquescence.286 Hare’s foot inkcap can grow in soil, or on wood chips, compost heaps, vegetable refuse, horse dung, or cattle dung from autumn to mid-winter.

Etymology

The genus name Coprinopsis is derived from the Latin word “coprinus,” which means living on dung. The species epithet lagopus is rooted in Greek where “lago” means hare and “pous” means foot. This likely refers to the appearance of the mushroom’s base, which is covered with a whitish tomentum, giving it a fuzzy or woolly appearance similar to a hare’s foot. This resemblance of the mushroom’s young fruit body to the paw of a white rabbit also has earned this species the common name harefoot mushroom.287, 288

Traditional Medicine and Modern Science

Mushrooms, including hare’s foot inkcap, are known to contain a wide range of secondary metabolites (i.e., metabolites that are not directly involved in the primary metabolic processes necessary for growth, development, and reproduction). The secondary metabolites in hare’s foot inkcap include a class of organic compounds called sesquiterpenes which are known for their diverse biological activities and potential medicinal properties, offering avenues for pharmaceutical exploration.289

Gastronomy

Although this species of mushroom is considered nonpoisonous, its edibility is unknown. Eating the mushroom is not recommended due to the potential risk of confusion with toxic species and because it may already be in the process of deliquescence.290