The wavy cap, a psilocybin-containing saprotroph in the Hymenogastraceae, described by Wakefield in 1946 from mulch beds at Kew Gardens. Its caramel to chestnut cap becomes distinctly wavy at maturity and fades to buff on drying; most parts bruise blue. It grows mainly on wood-chip mulch and has spread with commercial mulch.
Psychoactive; not a food mushroom. Contains psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin, which cause hallucinations and altered perception. Possession is prohibited or tightly regulated in many countries, including the US, Germany and New Zealand; legal status varies. It has been confused with deadly Galerina marginata (amatoxins), which can grow alongside it on wood chips; Galerina has a rusty-brown spore print.
Psychoactive species. Provided for scientific, educational and research purposes only. Psychoactive mushrooms — including those containing psilocybin or muscimol — are restricted or illegal to possess, sell or cultivate in many countries and jurisdictions; some permit regulated, medical or decriminalized use. Check the laws where you are. WeMush does not encourage illegal activity.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
Habitat
On wood chips, especially mulched beds in urban areas, and other lignin-rich substrates; not usually on bark mulch. Fruits after temperatures drop, generally in fall at 10-18 C; late October to February in the San Francisco Bay Area; reported in spring on the US East Coast.
Distribution
US Pacific Northwest south to the San Francisco Bay Area; also New Zealand, western and central Europe and parts of western Asia (Iran). Natural wild range unknown; spreading with wood-chip mulch.
Characteristics
Cap: 1.5-5 cm; convex, becoming plane with a distinctly wavy margin at maturity; caramel to chestnut brown when moist, fading to pale buff or yellowish; hygrophanous. Gills: adnate; light brown to dark purple-brown; edges paler. Stem: white; no distinct ring, but a cobwebby veil may leave an annular zone. Spore print: dark purplish brown. Spores: elliptical, 9-12 x 5-8 um. Odor/taste: farinaceous. Bruising: cap, gills and especially the stem stain blue; staining persists after drying.
