naturebriefs
8:30in productionCh. 1 · Name changes/ 8:30 · ceiling 15 min
Fungi · Evolution

Coprinopsis atramentaria

A fungus that digests itself to spread spores—and digests your hangover before you even take the first sip.

Coprinopsis atramentaria is a common Northern Hemisphere fungus. It fruits in clumps on lawns and vacant lots after rain. It is edible when young—but contains coprine, which causes disulfiram-like reactions if consumed with alcohol. Its taxonomy shifted from Agaricus (1786) to Coprinus (1838) to Coprinopsis (2001) following molecular phylogenetic analysis.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:51
    Name changes

    It is a fungus first named in 1786—and renamed twice since, most recently in 2001.

  2. 2:25
    Where it grows

    It grows in clumps on lawns and vacant lots across the Northern Hemisphere, after rain, from spring to autumn.

  3. 4:08
    Why it’s called tippler’s bane

    It is edible when young—but drinking alcohol within days of eating it triggers flushing, nausea and tachycardia.

  4. 5:14
    How DNA rewrote its family tree

    DNA analysis forced its move from Agaricaceae to Psathyrellaceae—and into the new genus Coprinopsis.

Worth your time?

Yes. See the whole thing.

4/ 5
What works
  • exploits disturbed ground reliably
  • times fruiting to post-rain moisture pulses
  • uses autodigestion to disperse spores in compact urban habitats
What does not
  • avoid urban disturbance
  • tolerate winter fruiting
  • lack biochemical consequence
See it if
  • mycologists tracking taxonomic revision
  • foragers who read labels and check timing
  • urban naturalists who watch decomposition as process
Skip it if
  • casual eaters
  • alcohol consumers
  • those who ignore biochemical warnings
The written brief1 min read

What the species is and where it came from

Coprinopsis atramentaria is a fungus. It was first described in 1786 as Agaricus atramentarius by Pierre Bulliard. It is widespread and common across the Northern Hemisphere.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It fruits in clumps after rain from spring to autumn. It grows in lawns, vacant lots and other urban or disturbed grassy areas. It is edible when young. It becomes dangerous when eaten with alcohol due to coprine.

What it gets right

It exploits disturbed ground reliably. It times fruiting to post-rain moisture pulses. It uses autodigestion—deliquescence—to disperse spores efficiently in compact urban habitats where wind dispersal is limited.

What it does not

It does not avoid human-altered land. It does not tolerate drought or winter fruiting. It does not lack biochemical consequence—its coprine content guarantees physiological impact when combined with ethanol.

What it changed

It helped redefine fungal taxonomy. Molecular phylogenetics moved it from Agaricus (1786) to Coprinus (1838) to Coprinopsis (2001). That shift reflected broader reclassification of ink caps into Psathyrellaceae.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for mycologists tracking taxonomic revision, foragers who read labels and check timing, and urban naturalists who watch decomposition as process—not just decay. It is not for casual eaters, alcohol consumers, or those who ignore biochemical warnings.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you want to see a fungus that visibly self-digests while testing human biochemistry in real time. No—if you plan to drink within 72 hours of foraging it.

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