Kingdom Fungi Class Agaricomycetes Family Strophariaceae | Division Basidiomycota Order Agaricales Genus Psilocybe Rank Species | |
Similar Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Gymnopilus luteus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus, Psilocybe silvatica |
Psilocybe caerulipes, commonly known as blue-foot, is a rare psilocybin mushroom of the Strophariaceae family, having psilocybin and psilocin as main active compounds. An older synonym is Agaricus caerulipes.
Contents
It is in the section Semilanceatae, other members of the section include Psilocybe bohemica, Psilocybe callosa, Psilocybe carbonaria, Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa, Psilocybe fimetaria, Psilocybe indica, Psilocybe liniformans var. liniformans, Psilocybe liniformans var. americana, Psilocybe pelliculosa, Psilocybe semiinconspicua, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe serbica, Psilocybe silvatica, Psilocybe subfimetaria and Psilocybe venenata.
Etymology
From the Latin words caerulea (blue) and pes (foot).
Description
Psilocybe caerulipes has a farinaceous taste and a no to slightly farinaceous odor.
Habitat
Psilocybe caerulipes may be found growing solitary to cespitose, in deciduous forests on hardwood slash and debris, plant matter, on or about decaying hardwood logs, birch, beech and maple.
Season
Psilocybe caerulipes grows from late May through December.
Distribution
Psilocybe caerulipes grows in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, and west to Michigan. It has also been found as far south as Mexico in the states of Hidalgo and Veracruz. In Mexico it is found in cloud forests on Fagus. It is often overlooked as just another little brown mushroom, and although widely distributed, it is not found often. It is sometimes confused with the larger Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata.