Pleated Inkcap (Fungus)
Parasola plicatilis
A small, delicate mushroom with an umbrella-like cap that is deeply pleated or grooved, looking much like a tiny paper parasol. The cap is greyish-white with a yellowish-brown center.
- Light
- None; prefers shaded, moist areas with organic matter. Sensitive to direct sunlight which dries it out quickly.
- Water
- Requires high moisture and humidity; often appears immediately after rain or heavy watering in garden beds or pots.
- Growth
- Ephemeral; emerges overnight, expands its cap in the morning, and usually withers by midday.
Care instructions
As this is a fungus, it does not require care. It indicates healthy, moist, organic-rich soil but will disappear within 24 hours of emerging. If found in houseplants, reducing watering slightly can prevent their growth.
Growing details
Sunlight
None; prefers shaded, moist areas with organic matter. Sensitive to direct sunlight which dries it out quickly.
Watering
Requires high moisture and humidity; often appears immediately after rain or heavy watering in garden beds or pots.
Soil
Rich in decaying organic matter, such as mulched garden beds, compost, or potting soil.
Hardiness zone
Not applicable (fungi do not follow USDA zones in the same way plants do).
Growth habit
Ephemeral; emerges overnight, expands its cap in the morning, and usually withers by midday.
Bloom season
Non-flowering (produces spores; visible mostly in spring and autumn).
Propagation
Spreading via microscopic spores released from the gills on the underside of the cap.
Common pests & issues
Often mistaken for a sign of plant disease, but it is actually a beneficial decomposer and harmless to living plants.
Similar species
Parasola leiocephala (identical without a microscope) and certain Coprinellus species which are more robust and turn into black ink.
Interesting facts
This mushroom is often called the 'Little Japanese Parasol' and is famous for its extremely short lifespan, often lasting only a few hours.