Psilocybe ammophila. Mont.
Figure 268.—Psilocybe ammophila. Two-thirds natural size, showing the sand on the base.
Ammophila is from two Greek words; ammos, sand, and philos, loving; so called because the plants seem to delight to grow in sandy soil.
The pileus is small, convex, expanded, umbilicate, at first hemispherical, rather fleshy, yellow, tinged with red, fibrillose.
The gills are smoky in color, with a decurrent tooth, powdered with the blackish spores.
The stem is soft, rather short, hollow, lower half clavate and sunk into the sand, striate. The spores are 12×8.
They are found in August and September. They delight in sandy soil, as the specific name indicates. The plants in the photograph were found near Columbus and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. It is quite common in sandy soil. I do not think it is edible. I should advise great caution in its use.