PSILO´CYBE Fr.
Gr—naked; head.
Pileus more or less fleshy, smooth, margin at first incurved. Gills becoming brownish or purple. Stem somewhat cartilaginous, rigid or tough, tubular, hollow or stuffed, often rooting. Veil absent or rudimentary, never forming a membrane. Spores purple, purple-brown or slate-color.
Generally growing on the ground, gregarious, sometimes cespitose.
Psilocybe is analogous in form to Collybia, Leptonia and Naucoria, which are distinguished by their spore colors. Separated from Psathyra by the incurved margin of the pileus.
But one species of Psilocybe is herein given as edible. Of it, alone, the writer has had opportunity to eat meals. Several others of the species have been found by him and tested in small quantity. They are all of good texture, substance and flavor, though most are small. He is of the opinion that increased testing will prove the entire genus edible. Nothing can or should be prognosticated about a toadstool, but the indications are all in favor of Psilocybe.
Psilocybe spadicea.
Two-thirds natural size.