Identification: Mulch Fungus

Hi! This is my first post, so thanks in advance for any help I can get. I've had two encounters now in one of my sheet mulch beds after a moist night where this fungus springs up in the morning.

There are two different kinds that I see, the one with the flat cap that sometimes looks like a star shape (though sometimes it forms a complete circle) and then the one with a larger mushroom cap. Both of these types are pretty small, you should be able to tell by the size of the leaves in the shots.

I'm trying to decide if I should worry about eating my vegetables now.

 

Shaggy mane.

 

thank you! it hadn't even occurred to me that it could be the same one in various stages of development.

are there any other species that could look similar or are you pretty certain about this one? thanks again.

 

I don't think this is the shaggy mane. I think this is a different species of Coprinus.

 

should i be worried about them being near my vegetables if they are a different coprinoid?

 

No need to worry, the vegetables won't take up any toxins that might be present in the fungi.

 

I've been told recently that most of the Coprinus species are not actually dung lovers, despite the name, but are often living on wood in the soil and/or enjoying the nitrogen from the fertilizer. Possibly the fungus is breaking things down to be even more useful to the plants?

 

That's normally the case.