It wasn't in the forest this time, but in a somewhat neglected corner of a public green space, where the grass grows freely, between two deserted benches. It was there, among some dead leaves, that I came across this strange character: straight as a pin, wearing a frayed hat, a Shaggy Ink Mushroom (Coprinus comatus), also called "witch's ink" when it enters its decaying phase.

It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale—a small, distinguished creature, dressed in a white tunic bristling with strands of hair. At its base, a few young specimens were barely emerging from the earth, curled up, waiting their turn to unfold. This mushroom, sometimes described as edible when young and still very white, quickly blackens as it liquefies, transforming its gills into a characteristic black ink.

But here again, the resemblance to other, less benign species requires the greatest caution. For my part, I simply greeted him with a curious look, admiring his elegant bearing in the heart of an unexpected setting.