Pholiotina cyanopus
Pholiotina cyanopus is a small, psychoactive mushroom that grows in grassy places and contains compounds such as psilocybin. It has also been called Conocybula cyanopus following a 2024 taxonomic reclassification. Because it can be confused with poisonous mushrooms, it should not be identified or eaten without expert guidance.
- Family
- Bolbitiaceae
- Habitat
- Lawns, fields, grassy places
- Growth
- Saprotrophic; feeds on organic matter
- Compounds
- Contains psilocybin and related alkaloids
- Safety
- Can be confused with toxic mushrooms
What is Pholiotina cyanopus?
Pholiotina cyanopus is the historical and still widely used name for a small, brown-capped mushroom in the family Bolbitiaceae. A 2024 taxonomic study placed it in the genus Conocybula, giving it the name Conocybula cyanopus. Older books and some reference databases may retain the former name. Such a change reflects new comparisons of DNA and physical features, not a change in the organism itself.
The mushroom has a smooth cap that may range from conical to rounded, cinnamon-brown gills, and a slender, fragile stem. Its cap is usually small, and the stem base may turn blue, but appearance can vary with age and conditions. Those features are useful to mycologists studying specimens, not a dependable checklist for casual identification. Many small brown mushrooms look alike, and some are dangerous.
- 1Spore release
A mature fruiting body releases microscopic spores from its gills.
- 2Germination
A spore may grow into fine fungal threads under suitable conditions.
- 3Mycelium
Threads form a network that absorbs nutrients from organic material.
- 4Fruiting body
The fungus forms a visible mushroom when conditions support reproduction.
- 5New spores
The gills produce spores, continuing the fungal life cycle.
How does Pholiotina cyanopus form?
Like other spore-producing fungi, Pholiotina cyanopus releases microscopic spores from the gill-bearing surface beneath its cap. Under suitable conditions, a spore can grow into fine fungal threads called hyphae. A network of these threads, known as mycelium, spreads through suitable material and absorbs nutrients. The visible mushroom is a temporary fruiting body made by that less-visible fungal network.
This species is described as saprotrophic: it obtains nutrients from dead or decaying organic material rather than making its own food. It is associated with lawns, fields, and other grassy settings. Some accounts also report sclerotia, compact resting structures formed by certain fungi. These can help a fungus persist when conditions are unfavorable, but their presence is not a simple way to identify this species.
Published accounts describe it as rare where it occurs.
Reports commonly place it in lawns, fields, and grassy areas.
Studies report psilocybin and other psychoactive alkaloids.
Editorial placement to help compare; not a measurement.
Where might Pholiotina cyanopus be encountered?
Reports place Pholiotina cyanopus in temperate parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, including some locations in the United States and Canada. It is described as uncommon or rare where it occurs. It may appear in grassy areas such as lawns and fields, but a mushroom growing in grass is not necessarily this species. Habitat alone cannot confirm a field identification.
People may come across the name in mushroom guides, scientific papers, online species lists, or discussions of psychoactive fungi. The name can be confusing because its scientific classification has shifted, and older sources may use a different genus. Records also vary in reliability; for example, some reports from the United Kingdom have been questioned. Distribution maps and photographs can suggest where to look, but they do not establish what a particular mushroom is.
| Pholiotina cyanopus | Psilocybe semilanceata | Conocybe rugosa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Bolbitiaceae; Conocybula placement | Psilocybe genus | Conocybe genus |
| Setting | Grassy places | Grasslands and pastures | Small brown mushroom habitat |
| Compounds | Psilocybin and related alkaloids | Psilocybin | Toxic; do not consume |
| Caution | Can be mistaken for toxic species | Wild identification still requires expertise | Poisonous lookalike concern |
Is Pholiotina cyanopus safe to identify or eat?
No wild mushroom should be eaten on the basis of an online description, photo, or one visible feature. Pholiotina cyanopus contains psychoactive compounds, including psilocybin, and reports also describe other related alkaloids. The amount and combination of compounds can vary between specimens. A mushroom’s appearance does not reveal its chemical content, and a name on a label is not proof that a specimen has been correctly identified.
A serious concern is confusion with poisonous small brown mushrooms, including Conocybe rugosa. Some toxic mushrooms resemble species discussed as psychoactive, and a mistake can cause severe harm. If you find an unknown mushroom, do not taste or consume it; seek help from a qualified local mushroom expert. Psilocybin is federally Schedule I in the United States. State-supervised access programs exist in Oregon and Colorado, while New Mexico’s medical program is being set up.
- 1918
George F. Atkinson described the species as Galerula cyanopus.
- 1935
Robert Kühner transferred it to Conocybe as Conocybe cyanopoda.
- 1950
Rolf Singer placed it in Pholiotina.
- 2024
T. Bau and H. B. Song transferred it to Conocybula.
How does Pholiotina cyanopus connect to other mushrooms?
Pholiotina cyanopus belongs to the wider group of gilled mushrooms: its spores form on gills under the cap, and its spore print is described as brown. It is not a Psilocybe species, even though it shares psychoactive compounds with some mushrooms in that genus. Comparing it with familiar examples such as Psilocybe semilanceata can help explain why the wider category of psychoactive mushrooms includes unrelated species.
The species also connects to broader topics in mycology, including mushroom life cycles, spores, fungal classification, and the difference between a fungus’s mycelium and its fruiting body. Its changing name offers a glimpse of how DNA evidence can reshape classifications. For learners, the key distinction is between understanding a species in a scientific or ecological context and assuming that a wild specimen is safe to handle or consume.
Common questions about Pholiotina cyanopus
What is Pholiotina cyanopus?
It is a small, brown-capped mushroom associated with grassy habitats. It contains psychoactive compounds, including psilocybin. A 2024 classification placed it in the genus Conocybula, so you may see it listed as Conocybula cyanopus as well as by its older name.
Is Pholiotina cyanopus the same as Conocybula cyanopus?
These names refer to the same species under different classifications. Pholiotina cyanopus is the older, familiar name; a 2024 taxonomic study transferred the species to Conocybula. Reference books and databases may take time to adopt a new name, so both names can appear in reliable sources.
Where does Pholiotina cyanopus grow?
Reports describe it in temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, particularly in grassy places such as fields and lawns. It is considered rare where it occurs. Finding a small mushroom in grass does not confirm its identity, since many unrelated species grow in similar settings.
Can you eat Pholiotina cyanopus?
Do not eat it. It contains psychoactive compounds and can be confused with poisonous mushrooms, including Conocybe rugosa. Wild mushroom identification from photos or brief descriptions is unreliable. Never eat a wild mushroom without expert identification, and remember that psilocybin is federally Schedule I in the United States.
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Written by the Pscilly editorial team and reviewed November 2026. Educational content only, not medical or legal advice. Pscilly does not sell psilocybin. Never eat a wild mushroom without expert identification.