Description

Psilocybe coprophila dung mushroom

Therina Groenewald: Psilocybe coprophila dung mushroom – professional photographer

The Psilocybe coprophila dung mushroom are a large genus of mushrooms containing some of the most sought-after hallucinogenic species as well as many little brown mushrooms with no “magic” properties at all. The dung-loving psilocybe is generally considered harmless. However, some strains may contain minute quantities of psilocybin, a hallucinogen, making this mushroom, if ingested in large quantities, mildly”active”.

As suggested by the common and species names, the dung-loving psilocybe grows on cow or horse manure. It is a decomposer rather than a symbiont.

They are very small (up to 2 cm across and 4 cm tall) with a convex, reddish brown cap. Moist caps are slimy or sticky. When young the cap margin has white patches that fade with age. The brownish gills are attached and distant (far apart). The white stalk darkens to brown as the mushroom matures. The veil (protective tissue around young fruiting body) is absent or rudimentary. When cut or bruised, dung-loving mushrooms do not turn blue.