This plant is very abundant in Ohio. It grows about old stumps, but a favorite habitat seems to be upon old sawdust piles. I have found it after we have had considerable freezing weather. The plants in the figure were frozen when I found them, the 27th of November. Dr. McIlvaine says in his book, "If the collector gets puzzled, as he will, over one or all of these species, because no description fits, he can whet his patience and his appetite by calling it H. perplexum and graciously eating it."
Psilocybe. Pers.
Psilocybe is from two Greek words, naked and head. The spores are purple-brown or slate color. The pileus is smooth, at first incurved, brownish or purple. The stem is cartilaginous, ringless, tough, hollow, or stuffed, often rooting. Generally growing on the ground.
Psilocybe fœnisecii. Pers.
The Brown Psilocybe.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 267.—Psilocybe fœnisecii. One-half natural size.
Fœnisecii means mown hay.