Conocybe smithii

Cap

0.3-1(1.3) cm in diam., conical to convex then sub-spread, distinctly ombronate, slippery in humidity, smooth, hygrophane, ochraceous fawn to cinnamon brown, darker towards the edge, paler in dryness , tan, with streaky margin to humidity

Gills

adnate to adnate, narrow to moderately wide, subspaced to very close together, pale grayish-yellow to brown at first, cinnamon-rusty brown with age, with whitish ridges

Stem

(1)2-5(7.5) cm x 0.75-2(3) mm, subequal, often slightly broadened towards the base, brittle, finely fibrillose whitish then glabrous, slightly ridged-twisted, pure white, often slightly grayish towards the base at first, then azure blue with age, quickly turning blue when crumpled

Partial veil

absent

Spore

cinnamon brown

Subhymenium

cellular, formed of swollen cells, hyaline, 3.7-7.2 µm in diameter

basidia

shortly cleaved, with 4 sterigmata, 18.3-20 x 7.3-8 µm

Spores

ellipsoids seen from the front, subinequilateral seen from the side, slightly truncate, smooth, thickened walled, with distinct small germ pore, rusty brown, inactive in Melzer, (6.5)7-9(9.5) x 4-5 .1(5.5)µm

Cheilocystidia

often subcapitate, thin-walled, hyaline, 20-40 x 9-15 µm, 6.2-8.8 µm diam. at the apex

Pleurocystidia

absent

Caulocystidia

in clusters, fusiform-ventrue, (sub)capitate to filiform towards the apex, hyaline, 36-44 x 11-12 µm, 3.7-7 µm in diam. at the apex

Lamellar framework

parallel to tangled
formed of cylindrical to swollen hyphae, hyaline, 2.9-18.6 µm in diameter

Pileitrame

formed of cylindrical to ± swollen hyphae, loosely matted, hyaline, 3.8-9.9 µm in diameter

Pileipellis

duplex:

a) cellular suprapellis with hymenoderm, formed of globose-pedicelate cells, with thickened wall, hyaline to yellowish, brown towards the base, encrusted, 29.2-36.5 x 11-14.6 µm, 3.7- 5.1 µm dia. at base
b) subpellis formed of compact, ± cylindrical, matted, thin-walled, hyaline to brownish hyphae, some with spiral encrustation, 3.7-7.3 µm in diam

Pileocystidia

rare, fusiform-bellied and attenuated to filiform-cylindrical, hyaline to yellowish, 3.7-5.1 µm in diameter

Stipitipellis

in cutis
formed of ± cylindrical hyphae, parallel to matted, hyaline to yellowish, 3.7-10.2 µm in diameter

Loops

present

Ecology

often saprotrophic
in swamps, ditches, wetlands, among sphagnum, along watercourses and in lawns

Period

early-spring

Edibility

moderately hallucinogenic
containing psilocin, psilocybin and baeocystin

Remarks

This conocybe is one of the few species of the genus Conocybe that contains psilocybin.
Pholiotina cyanopus, almost identical and also with a bluish stipe, differs in its more slender basidiomes, its stipe up to 1-1.5 mm wide, its cheilocystidia often fusiform-bellied, ± obtuse at the apex, its spores slightly more short, up to 7.5(8.5) µm, and its growth favors grassy environments.

References

MycoMatch (MatchMaker) Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest
Version 2.4.1. 2023.
Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World, 1998. Stamets, P.