Psilocybin-containingHymenogastraceae

Psilocybe stuntzii

Blue ringer

Lawn and mulch species with a persistent ring, notorious for growing beside deadly Galerina.

Cap: Convex to flat, 1-5 cm, dark chestnut drying yellowish olive, sticky.
Gills: Adnate, pale then purple-brown.
Stem: 20-60 mm, with a distinct persistent membranous ring, bluing at the base.
Flesh: Blues.
Spore print: Dark purple-brown
Habitat: New lawns, wood chips and landscaping bark.
Distribution: Pacific Northwest of North America.
Season: Late summer to early winter.
Bruising: Blue-green at the base.
Odour: Farinaceous.
Potency: Mild

Key features

▪Persistent membranous ring
▪Lawn and bark habitat
▪Bluing stem base

Field tests

Spore print must be dark purple-brown - a rusty print means Galerina
Never gather ringed brown mushrooms in mixed clumps

Edibility

Contains psilocybin at low levels.

Warning

Frequently fruits side by side with the lethal Galerina marginata, which also has a ring.

Lookalikes

Galerina marginatadeadly

Both have a ring and fruit in lawns and bark. Spore print is the only reliable separator: purple-brown versus rusty brown.

Photo and feature-based identification is probabilistic. Never consume a wild mushroom on the basis of an app result — confirm with an experienced mycologist.