Psilocybin-containingHymenogastraceaeAsiaAustraliaSouth AmericaCentral America
Psilocybe subcubensis
Tropical gold cap
Pantropical dung species extremely close to P. cubensis, separated chiefly by smaller spores.
Regional status: Native across the tropics
- Cap
- Convex to flattened, 20–70 mm, golden to pale brown with a paler margin.
- Gills
- Adnate, pale grey then dark purple-brown.
- Stem
- 40–120 mm, whitish with a membranous ring, blueing.
- Flesh
- Whitish, blueing.
- Spore print
- Dark purple-brown
- Habitat
- Cattle and buffalo dung in tropical pasture.
- Distribution
- South and South-East Asia, northern Australia, Central and South America.
- Season
- Warm wet months
- Bruising
- Strong blue-green bruising.
- Odour
- Farinaceous
- Potency
- Common
Key features
- ▪Membranous ring on the stem
- ▪Grows on dung in tropical pasture
- ▪Strong blue bruising
Field tests
- Purple-brown spore print
- Bruise the cap edge for a blue reaction
Edibility
Psilocybin-containing; not a food species.
Warning
Dung pasture also hosts toxic Panaeolus and Conocybe species. Microscopy separates this from P. cubensis.
Photo and feature-based identification is probabilistic. Never consume a wild mushroom on the basis of an app result — confirm with an experienced mycologist.