bamira said:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/w... 
young is edible, I ate it but they are not tasty
I disagree! X2
Right genus, wrong species, I could be wrong but I think those are mica caps, I forget the Latin, coprinus...something... I really don't think they're shaggy mane tho.
Shaggy mane with have distinct "feathers" or scales running down the length of the cap, they generally appear smooth.
mica caps are characterized by a powdery substance that sparkles in the sun, like mica, rubs off on your fingers and feels like sand.
They also deliquise (melt) very fast!
All coprinus do, thus the name inky caps, they were used to make ink in the past!
They grow only from the soil, on buried rotting wood, but can grow directly from a rotten log if it's rotted enough.
They're all edible, the key is picking them at the right stage, and getting them in the skillet very fast!
They're considered prime when the caps are egg shaped and the gill are white, once picked the gills will turn black in an hour or 2, and begin melting into a black mess about 2 hours after that, refrigeration does not slow this process!
They're still edible at any point, but cooking ones with black gills will yield a black sauce, it can dishes ugly... Cooking melting ones will yield black ink...yuck
If you do things right, which is easier than it sounds, they are wonderful, and lend themselves to Italian dishes, like pizza or spaghetti, their flavor is far better than buttons, portobello and shiitake.
Never eat anything unless your 100% sure what it is! And alway do your homework!
CONSUMING ALCOHOL AND COPRINUS MUSHROOMS CAN BE DANGEROUS!
POSSIBLY EVEN DEADLY!
