Conocybe
Encyclopedia
The genus Conocybe is a genus
of mushrooms consisting of Conocybe tenera
and at least 243 other species, with at least 50 species in North America.
Most have a long, thin fragile stem and are delicate, growing in grasslands on dead moss, dead grass, sand dunes, decayed wood, and dung. Conocybe species generally prefer fertile soils in lawns and pastures and are found worldwide. Conocybes are sometimes called dunce caps or cone heads due to their conical or bell-shaped caps. Species of Conocybe which have a well-developed partial veil are placed in the subgenus Pholiotina
. Similar to Galerina
, a Conocybe species can be distinguished microscopically by its cellular cap cuticle
which is filamentous (thread-like) in Galerina. It is easy to confuse Conocybe species for Galerina unless the microscopic nature of the cap cuticle is examined. Conocybes have cap cuticles resembling cobblestones. Conocybes can also be mistaken for species of Bolbitius
.
Four species of Conocybe that are known to contain psilocin
and psilocybin
are Conocybe kuehneriana
, Conocybe siligineoides
, Conocybe cyanopus
, and Conocybe smithii
. Conocybe siligineoides
was used for shamanic purposes by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca.
Conocybe filaris
is a common lawn mushroom which contains the same deadly toxins as the death cap
.
Conocybe comes from the Greek cono meaning cone and cybe meaning head.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of mushrooms consisting of Conocybe tenera
Conocybe tenera
Conocybe tenera is a widely distributed member of the genus Conocybe. This mushroom is the type species for the genus Conocybe.-Description:...
and at least 243 other species, with at least 50 species in North America.
Most have a long, thin fragile stem and are delicate, growing in grasslands on dead moss, dead grass, sand dunes, decayed wood, and dung. Conocybe species generally prefer fertile soils in lawns and pastures and are found worldwide. Conocybes are sometimes called dunce caps or cone heads due to their conical or bell-shaped caps. Species of Conocybe which have a well-developed partial veil are placed in the subgenus Pholiotina
Pholiotina
Pholiotina is a genus of small mushrooms.-Taxonomic details:The genus Pholiotina is defined as small thin Mycena like mushrooms,with an hymenoderm pileipellis, a dry cap surface, cystidia which are...
. Similar to Galerina
Galerina
Galerina is a genus of small brown-spored saprobic mushrooms, with over 300 species found throughout the world, from the far north to remote Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean. Species are typically small and hygrophanous, with a slender and brittle stem. They are often found growing on wood,...
, a Conocybe species can be distinguished microscopically by its cellular cap cuticle
Pileipellis
thumb|300px||right|The cuticle of some mushrooms, such as [[Russula mustelina]] shown here, can be peeled from the cap, and may be useful as an identification feature....
which is filamentous (thread-like) in Galerina. It is easy to confuse Conocybe species for Galerina unless the microscopic nature of the cap cuticle is examined. Conocybes have cap cuticles resembling cobblestones. Conocybes can also be mistaken for species of Bolbitius
Bolbitius
Bolbitius is a genus of small mushrooms in the Bolbitiaceae family.- Taxonomic details :The genus Bolbitius is defined as small thin Mycena-like mushrooms, with an hymenoderm pileipellis, a glutinous cap surface, and spores which are brown in deposit...
.
Four species of Conocybe that are known to contain psilocin
Psilocin
Psilocin , an aromatic compound, sometimes also spelled psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin, is a psychedelic mushroom alkaloid. It is found in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin...
and psilocybin
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
are Conocybe kuehneriana
Conocybe kuehneriana
Conocybe kuehneriana is a species of mushroom in the Bolbitiaceae family....
, Conocybe siligineoides
Conocybe siligineoides
Conocybe siligineoides is a species of macrofungus in the Bolbitiaceae family. It has seldom been observed by the mycological community with all specimens having been collected in Mexico. Originally reported as a sacred mushroom, no chemical studies have been undertaken on this species although...
, Conocybe cyanopus
Conocybe cyanopus
Conocybe cyanopus is a member of the genus Conocybe which contains the medicinal compound psilocybin. It is formerly known as Pholiotina cyanopoda, Conocybe cyanopoda, and Galerula cyanopus.-Description:...
, and Conocybe smithii
Conocybe smithii
Conocybe smithii is a rare member of the genus Conocybe which contains the hallucinogenic alkaloid psilocybin. It was formerly known as Galera cyanopes.-Description:...
. Conocybe siligineoides
Conocybe siligineoides
Conocybe siligineoides is a species of macrofungus in the Bolbitiaceae family. It has seldom been observed by the mycological community with all specimens having been collected in Mexico. Originally reported as a sacred mushroom, no chemical studies have been undertaken on this species although...
was used for shamanic purposes by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca.
Conocybe filaris
Conocybe filaris
Conocybe filaris is a common lawn mushroom which is widely distributed and especially common in the pacific northwest. It contains the same mycotoxins as the death cap. It is also known as Pholiotina filaris.- Description :...
is a common lawn mushroom which contains the same deadly toxins as the death cap
Death cap
Amanita phalloides , commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Widely distributed across Europe, A. phalloides forms ectomycorrhizas with various broadleaved trees. In some cases, death cap has been introduced to new regions with...
.
Conocybe comes from the Greek cono meaning cone and cybe meaning head.
Species list
- Conocybe albipesConocybe albipesConocybe apala is a basidiomycete fungus and a member of Conocybe. It is a fairly common fungus, both in North America and Europe, found growing among short green grass. Until recently, the species was also commonly known as Conocybe lactea and Conocybe albipes. Other common synonyms such as...
(very common) - Conocybe cyanopusConocybe cyanopusConocybe cyanopus is a member of the genus Conocybe which contains the medicinal compound psilocybin. It is formerly known as Pholiotina cyanopoda, Conocybe cyanopoda, and Galerula cyanopus.-Description:...
(psychoactive) - Conocybe elegansConocybe elegansConocybe elegans is a mushroom species in the genus Conocybe....
- Conocybe filarisConocybe filarisConocybe filaris is a common lawn mushroom which is widely distributed and especially common in the pacific northwest. It contains the same mycotoxins as the death cap. It is also known as Pholiotina filaris.- Description :...
(deadly) - Conocybe kuehnerianaConocybe kuehnerianaConocybe kuehneriana is a species of mushroom in the Bolbitiaceae family....
(psychoactive) - Conocybe reticulata
- Conocybe rickeniiConocybe rickeniiConocybe rickenii is a mushroom from the genus Conocybe. Its edibility is disputed, and it has the appearance of a typical little brown mushroom with a small, conical cap, and long, thin stem. In colour, it is generally a cream-brown, lighter on the stem, and it has a thin layer of flesh with no...
- Conocybe siligineoidesConocybe siligineoidesConocybe siligineoides is a species of macrofungus in the Bolbitiaceae family. It has seldom been observed by the mycological community with all specimens having been collected in Mexico. Originally reported as a sacred mushroom, no chemical studies have been undertaken on this species although...
(psychoactive) - Conocybe smithiiConocybe smithiiConocybe smithii is a rare member of the genus Conocybe which contains the hallucinogenic alkaloid psilocybin. It was formerly known as Galera cyanopes.-Description:...
(psychoactive) - Conocybe teneraConocybe teneraConocybe tenera is a widely distributed member of the genus Conocybe. This mushroom is the type species for the genus Conocybe.-Description:...
(type species) - Conocybe volviradicata