Panaeolus Olivaceus

Panaeolus olivaceus (syn. Panaeolus castaneifolius) is a semi-rare and widely distributed little brown mushroom which contains the hallucinogen psilocybin, is often mistaken for Panaeolina foenisecii, and is distinguished by its black spore print and darker gill coloration when mature, as well as a slightly thicker stem. It is even more easily mistaken for Panaeolus cinctulus and can be distinguished from that species by its more campanulate cap shape when young and slightly roughened spores. It is also easily confused with Panaeolina castaneifolia, a species which has spores that are dark brown and significantly more roughened. Description Cap: 1— 3(4) cm across, Distinctly campanulate then subhemispheric to convex, becoming broadly conic, not fully expanding, incurved margin when young, dark smoky-grayish to dark cinnamon, drying to a straw-yellow or slightly olive-gray color, remaining more reddish-brown towards the center, hygrophanous, smooth, sometimes striated or finely corrugated, flesh thick and firm. Gills: Adnate to adnexed, close, thin, pallid, mottled, slightly olive-greenish, becoming dark purplish gray-black in age, edge whitish. Stipe: 4— 6(7.5) cm by 3— 4(6) mm thick, equal to slightly tapering at the base, hollow, brittle, pruinose and slightly striate, no veil remnants. Grayish to ochraceous, tan or purple at the base. Spores: Black, slightly roughened, 12 — 15(17) x 7 — 8.5(10) micrometers, elliptic, rugose or verrucose. Microscopic features: Basidia 24 — 28 x 10 - 12 micrometers. Cheilocystidia (20)24— 30(38) x (5)7 — 10 micrometers, abundant, neck often flexuous and apices usually obtuse, thin walled and hyaline, pleurocystidia rare or absent, not projecting beyond plane of basidia. Habitat and formation Panaeolus olivaceus grows scattered to gregariously in rich grassy areas, from late summer through December, across North and South America, likely more widely distributed; it has been collected in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, Georgia, Canada's Quebec and in the United Kingdom.