''Conocybe'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. ''Toadstool'' generally refers to a poisonous mushroom. The standard for the n ...

s with '' Conocybe tenera'' as the

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

and at least 243 other species. There are at least 50 different species in North America. Most have a long, thin fragile stipe and are delicate, growing in grasslands on dead moss, dead grass, sand dunes, decayed wood, and dung. ''Conocybe'' species generally prefer fertile soils in lawns and pastures and are found worldwide. ''Conocybe'' species are sometimes called dunce caps or cone heads due to their conical or bell-shaped

caps Caps are flat headgear. Caps or CAPS may also refer to: Science and technology Computing * CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters * Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Java ...

. Former species of ''Conocybe'' that have a well-developed

partial veil In mycology, a partial veil (also called an inner veil, to differentiate it from the "outer", or universal veil) is a temporary structure of tissue found on the fruiting bodies of some Basidiomycota, basidiomycete fungus, fungi, typically agarics. ...

and/or lack lecythiform cheilocystidia have been transferred to the genus '' Pholiotina'', which was formerly a subgenus of ''Conocybe''. However, ''Pholiotina'' as it is currently defined is

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage that includes organisms with mixed evolutionary origin but does not include their most recent common ancestor. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as Homoplasy, homoplasies ...

, although none of the three clades that make it up belong in ''Conocybe''. Similar to '' Galerina'', a ''Conocybe'' species can be distinguished microscopically by its cellular cap cuticle, which is filamentous (thread-like) in ''Galerina''. It is easy to confuse ''Conocybe'' species for ''Galerina'' species unless the microscopic nature of the cap cuticle is examined. ''Conocybe'' species have cap cuticles resembling cobblestones. ''Conocybe'' species can also be mistaken for species of '' Bolbitius''. Four species of ''Conocybe'' that are known to contain the

hallucinogen Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelics, entheogens, or historically as psychotomimetics, are a large and diverse class of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness characterized by major alterations in thought, mo ...

ic compounds

psilocin Psilocin, also known as 4-hydroxy-''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine (4-HO-DMT), is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic. It is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocy ...

and

psilocybin Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), is a natural product, naturally occurring tryptamine alkaloid and Investigational New Drug, investigational drug found in more than List of psilocybin mushroom ...

are '' C. kuehneriana'', '' C. siligineoides'', '' C. cyanopus'', and '' C. smithii''. ''Conocybe siligineoides'' was used for

shaman Shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into ...

ic purposes by the Mazatecs of

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

. '' Conocybe filaris'' is a common lawn mushroom that contains the same deadly toxins as the

death cap ''Amanita phalloides'' ( ), commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus and mushroom, one of many in the genus ''Amanita''. Originating in Europe but later introduced to other parts of the world since the late ...

. ''Conocybe'' comes from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

''cono'' meaning ''cone'' and ''cybe'' meaning ''head''. Conocybe_cf_coprophila_Colombia_underside

Selected species

*'' Conocybe apala'' (very common) *'' Conocybe aurea'' *'' Conocybe coprophila'' (Coprophilous) *'' Conocybe cyanopus'' (psychoactive) *'' Conocybe elegans'' *'' Conocybe farinacea'' (Coprophilous) *'' Conocybe filaris'' (deadly) *'' Conocybe kuehneriana'' (psychoactive) *'' Conocybe moseri'' *'' Conocybe pubescens'' (Coprophilous) *'' Conocybe reticulata'' *'' Conocybe rickenii'' *'' Conocybe siligineoides'' (psychoactive) *'' Conocybe smithii'' (psychoactive) *'' Conocybe tenera'' (type species) *'' Conocybe volviradicata''

Legal status

United States

Louisiana

Except for ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing ''Conocybe'' spp. (and ''

Psilocybe ''Psilocybe'' ( ) is a genus of gilled mushrooms, growing worldwide, in the family Hymenogastraceae. Many species contain the Psychedelic drug, psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. Taxonomy Taxonomic history A 2002 study of the ...

'' spp.) is prohibited by Louisiana State Act 159.

References

External links