Kip’s Comments - October 4, 2026

24-Hours From Emerging to Liquification

So far this fall I have found several shaggy mane (Ink cap) fungi. On first discovery I did not know the fungus lasts only about 24-hours. I learned that when I wanted to document my first finds and quickly realized they had turned into a a black goo.

Yesterday I found a shaggy mane in our yard and have since been watching it closely. Like the others, this fungus is quickly liquefying before my eyes.

I learned something on this - the short lifespan. Hopefully if I find another one it will be in a safe location where I can put a time-lapse camera nearby to document the 24-or so hours of existence. That might make an interesting video.

Oh - and I wondered if this fungus had any iridescent or glow-in-the-dark qualities. I didn’t see any.

Decaying Shaggy Mane (Ink Cap) - Image 1158979