Stropharia aurantiaca

Stropharia aurantiaca is mushroom which has a bright red cap and usually grows alone or in clusters on wood chips. It is also known as Naematoloma aurantiaca, Hypholoma aurantiaca, and Psilocybe ceres. Easily confused with Stropharia thrausta, it is common in wood chips and lawns in California, rare in Europe and is probably more widespread. It is often found in the same habitat as Psilocybe cyanescens. ^[1]

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Edibility is unknown, but there are reports of it causing hallucinations and diarrhea after consumption if eaten raw. ^[2]

This mushroom contains the hallucinogen psilocybin at a concentration of 0.99% according to one study, but this could be a false positive. [1]

Description

• Cap: 2 to 6 cm in diameter, with thin flesh and a bright red to brick red top which is convex to plane in age. Has partial veil remnants when young. The cap surface is usually dry, but can be slightly viscid when moist.
• Gills: Close, pale gray at first, later darker purple/brown with whitish edges. Attached and often notched.
• Spores: Dark purple/brown. 10-13.5 x 6-8.5 m. Elliptical and smooth.
• Stipe: Whitish, often with dark orange stains in age, 4-8 cm long, .5 to 1cm wide, equal to slightly larger at the base, which often has yellowish mycelium attached. The veil is thin and leaves a fragile ring. The stalk is smooth above the ring and has tiny scales below, which often wash off in rain.
• Taste: Mild (many other Hypholomas have a bitter taste).
• Odor: Mild

References