Gymnopilus luteofolius

Cap:

2-12 cm in diameter, obtuse to convex, then broadly convex to subexpanded, often slightly umbonate, densely covered with fibrillose scales, often erect at the center and appressed towards the margin. It is reddish-brown, dark red to purple-red, with dull green stains, gradually becoming pinkish-red to red, subglabrous, and yellowish at the end. The margin is initially rolled inwards, then becomes curved with age.

Gills:

Adnate, sinuate, emarginate to uncinate, moderately broad to wide, somewhat spaced to close, yellow to cream-chamois tinged with pink, then yellow-chamois to ochraceous, shiny rust-orange at the end, with serrulate edges.

Stem:

3-10 x 0.3-2 cm, nearly equal to slightly widened or tapered towards the base when in clusters, often curved at the base, fleshy, solid then stuffed or hollow, fibrillose-striate, approximately the same color as the cap, paler between the striae, sometimes becoming bluish at the base when bruised, with a chamois basal mycelium.

Partial Veil:

Submembranous to fibrillose, yellowish, leaving a superior ring or a fibrillose yellow annular zone, quickly turning rust-orange due to the spores.

Flesh:

Moderately thick at the center, thin towards the margin, firm, whitish, reddish, lavender, or purplish under the cuticle and above the gills, then yellowish.

Odor and Taste:

Sweet to slightly mealy or alkaline odor, with a bitter taste.

Spore Print:

Shiny rust-orange.

Basidioles:

Often ventricose to club-shaped, acute at the apex, brown, measuring 21-30 x 5-8 µm.

Basidia:

4-spored, measuring 24-28 x 6-7 µm.

Spores:

Subovoid to ellipsoid in frontal view, subinequilateral in profile, rough to warty, lacking a germ pore, rust-colored in KOH, dextrinoid, measuring 5.5-8.5 x 3.5-4.5 µm.

Cheilocystidia:

Ventriform to lecythiform, capitate or not, measuring 23-28 x 4-7 µm.

Pleurocystidia:

Fusiform to ventricose, acute at the apex, hyaline, measuring 30-38 x 5-10 µm.

Caulocystidia:

In tufts, clavate, ventricose to lecythiform, measuring 20-63 x 3-10(15) µm.

Loops:

Present.

Growth Mode:

Gregarious or cespitose.

Ecology:

Saprotrophic, found on decaying conifer and hardwood wood, as well as on lignin-rich humus, stumps, logs, debris, wood chips, and sawdust.

Edibility:

Not edible; reported as hallucinogenic due to its psilocybin content. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in some mushrooms, often referred to as "magic mushrooms" or "psychedelic mushrooms." When ingested, psilocybin is converted into psilocin, which can induce altered perceptions, hallucinations, and changes in mood and consciousness. The psilocybin content in mushrooms can vary widely depending on the species, the specific variety or strain, growing conditions, and maturity of the mushrooms. Gymnopilus luteofolius is not as well-known for its psilocybin content as certain species of the Psilocybe genus (e.g., Psilocybe cubensis). However, Gymnopilus species do contain some psychoactive compounds, including psilocybin, although the concentration may be lower than in more commonly recognized "magic mushrooms."

Remarks:

This gymnopile is characterized by its cap, often with vinous purple fibrils or scales, initially reddish-brown, dark red to reddish-brown, with scattered green stains, yellowish gills, relatively persistent veil, rust-orange spore print, and tufted caulocystidia. G. aeruginosus tends to have flesh that turns green and a slightly fibrillose veil. Tricholomopsis rutilans lacks a veil and has a white spore print.