''Conocybe'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is t ...

s with ''

Conocybe tenera ''Conocybe tenera'' is a widely distributed member of the genus ''Conocybe''. This mushroom is the type species for the genus ''Conocybe''. Description ''Conocybe tenera'' is a small saprotrophic mushroom with a conic to convex cap and is smo ...

'' as the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

and at least 243 other species. There are at least 50 different species in North America. Most have a long, thin fragile stipe 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. ''Conocybe'' species are sometimes called dunce caps or cone heads due to their conical or bell-shaped

caps Caps are flat headgear. Caps or CAPS may also refer to: Science and technology Computing * CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters * Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Java ...

. Former species of ''Conocybe'' that have a well-developed

partial veil In mycology, a partial veil (also called an inner veil, to differentiate it from the "outer", or universal veil) is a temporary structure of tissue found on the fruiting bodies of some basidiomycete fungi, typically agarics. Its role is to isolate ...

and/or lack lecythiform

cheilocystidia A cystidium (plural cystidia) is a relatively large cell found on the sporocarp of a basidiomycete (for example, on the surface of a mushroom gill), often between clusters of basidia. Since cystidia have highly varied and distinct shapes that ar ...

have been transferred to the genus ''

Pholiotina ''Pholiotina'' is a genus of small agaric fungi. It was circumscribed by Swiss mycologist Victor Fayod in 1889 for ''Conocybe''-like species with partial veils. The genus has since been expanded to include species lacking partial veils. Taxonomi ...

'', which was formerly a subgenus of ''Conocybe''. However, ''Pholiotina'' as it is currently defined is

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of converg ...

, although none of the three clades that make it up belong in ''Conocybe''. Similar to ''

Galerina ''Galerina'' is a genus of small brown-spore saprobic fungi (colloquially often ''mushrooms''), with over 300 species found throughout the world from the far north to remote Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean. The genus is most noted for some ...

'', a ''Conocybe'' species can be distinguished microscopically by its cellular

cap cuticle The pileipellis is the uppermost layer of hyphae in the pileus of a fungal fruit body. It covers the trama, the fleshy tissue of the fruit body. The pileipellis is more or less synonymous with the cuticle, but the cuticle generally describes th ...

, which is filamentous (thread-like) in ''Galerina''. It is easy to confuse ''Conocybe'' species for ''Galerina'' species unless the microscopic nature of the cap cuticle is examined. ''Conocybe'' species have cap cuticles resembling cobblestones. ''Conocybe'' species can also be mistaken for species of ''

Bolbitius ''Bolbitius'' is a genus of small mushrooms in the family Bolbitiaceae. Description The genus ''Bolbitius'' is defined as small thin ''Mycena''-like mushrooms, with a hymenoderm pileipellis, a glutinous cap surface, and spores that are brown i ...

''. Four species of ''Conocybe'' that are known to contain the

hallucinogen Hallucinogens are a large, diverse class of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness characterized by major alterations in thought, mood, and perception as well as other changes. Most hallucinogens can be categorized ...

ic compounds

psilocin Psilocin (also known as 4-HO-DMT, 4-hydroxy DMT, psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin) is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic substance. It is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counte ...

and

psilocybin Psilocybin ( , ) is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi. The most potent are members of the genus ''Psilocybe'', such as '' P. azurescens'', '' P. semilanceata'', and '' P.&nbs ...

are '' C. kuehneriana'', '' C. siligineoides'', '' C. cyanopus'', and '' C. smithii''. ''Conocybe siligineoides'' was used for

shaman Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritu ...

ic purposes by the Mazatecs of

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

. ''

Conocybe filaris ''Pholiotina rugosa'' is a common mushroom which is widely distributed and especially common in the Pacific Northwest. It grows in woodchips, flowerbeds and compost. It has been found in Europe, Asia and North America. It contains the same mycot ...

'' is a common lawn mushroom that contains the same deadly toxins as the

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, but now sprouting in other parts of the world, ''A. phalloides ...

. ''Conocybe'' comes from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

''cono'' meaning ''cone'' and ''cybe'' meaning ''head''.

Selected species

*''

Conocybe apala ''Conocybe apala'' is a basidiomycete fungus and a member of the genus ''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 called ''Co ...

'' (very common) *''

Conocybe aurea ''Conocybe aurea'' is a basidiomycete fungus in the family Bolbitiaceae. Taxonomy The fungus was first species description, described to science in 1930 by German mycologist Julius Schäffer, who called it ''Galera aurea''. Tsuguo Hongo transfer ...

'' *''

Conocybe cyanopus ''Pholiotina cyanopus'' is a species of fungus that contains psychoactive compounds including psilocybin and the uncommon aeruginascin. Originally described as ''Galerula cyanopus'' by American mycologist George Francis Atkinson in 1918. It was ...

'' (psychoactive) *''

Conocybe elegans ''Conocybe elegans'' is a mushroom species in the genus ''Conocybe ''Conocybe'' is a genus of mushrooms with ''Conocybe tenera'' as the type species and at least 243 other species. There are at least 50 different species in North America. Mos ...

'' *''

'' (deadly) *''

Conocybe kuehneriana ''Conocybe velutipes'' is a species of mushroom in the Bolbitiaceae family. It contains the psychedelic alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin Psilocin (also known as 4-HO-DMT, 4-hydroxy DMT, psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin) is a substituted try ...

'' (psychoactive) *''

Conocybe moseri ''Conocybe moseri'' is a mushroom species in the family Bolbitiaceae. It was described as new to science in 1980 by mycologist Roy Watling, from collections made in France. The specific epithet ''moseri'' honours Austrian mycologist Meinhard Mos ...

'' *''

Conocybe reticulata ''Conocybe'' is a genus of mushrooms with ''Conocybe tenera'' as the type species and at least 243 other species. There are at least 50 different species in North America. Most have a long, thin fragile stipe (mycology), stipe and are delicate, ...

'' *''

Conocybe rickenii ''Conocybe 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, ...

'' *''

Conocybe siligineoides ''Conocybe siligineoides'', also known as cone caps, Ya'nte, Ta'a'ya, or Tamu, is a species of macro-fungus in the family Bolbitiaceae. It has seldom been observed by the mycological community with all specimens having been collected in Mexico. ...

'' (psychoactive) *''

Conocybe smithii ''Pholiotina smithii'' is a rare member of the genus ''Pholiotina'' which contains the hallucinogenic alkaloid psilocybin. It was formerly known as ''Galera cyanopes'' '' Photography and microscopy by Jordan luebben''. Description *Cap: 0.3 - ...

'' (psychoactive) *''

'' (type species) *'' Conocybe volviradicata''

Legal status

United States

Louisiana

Except for ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing ''Conocybe'' spp. (and ''

Psilocybe ''Psilocybe'' ( ) is a genus of gilled mushrooms, growing worldwide, in the family Hymenogastraceae. Most or nearly all species contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. Taxonomy Taxonomic history A 2002 study of the mole ...

'' spp.) is prohibited by

Louisiana State Act 159 Signed into law June 28, 2005, and effective August 8, 2005, Louisiana State Act No 159 found in, Louisiana RS 40:989.1, outlawed the cultivation, possession or sale of 40 named plants defined as hallucinogenic in the state of Louisiana, US. House ...

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1933387 Bolbitiaceae Agaricales genera Taxa named by Jacob Christian Schäffer

Selected species

Legal status

United States

Louisiana

See also

References

External links