The shaggy mane or lawyer's wig is so large and distinctive that with a little practice you can identify it from a moving car. The cap of a fresh specimen is a long, white cylinder with shaggy, upturned, brownish scales. The gills are whitish, and the entire mushroom is fragile and crumbles easily. Most important, as the shaggy mane matures, the cap and gills gradually dissolve into a black, inky fluid, leaving only the standing stalk. Often seen scattered in lawns and pastures.
Shaggy manes are best when picked before the caps begin to turn black.
However, until you become familiar with these mushrooms, check for the developing ink to be sure of your identification. Good in scrambled eggs or chicken dishes. Shaggy manes are delicate and should be picked young and eaten the same day. They do look much like coral. Also called club fungi, antler mushrooms or doghair mushrooms.