Strophariaceae

The Strophariaceae is a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. The species of Strophariaceae have a red-brown to dark brown spore print, while the spores themselves are smooth and have an apical germ pore. These agarics are also characterized by having a cutis-type pileipellis. Ecologically, all species in this group are saprotrophs, growing on various kinds of decaying organic matter.

Genera

• The genus Stropharia, is mainly a medium to large agaric with a distinct membranous annulus. Spore print-color is generally medium to dark purple-brown, except for a few species that have rusty-brown spores. There is a great deal of variation, however, since this groups as presently delimited is polyphyletic. Members of the core clade of Stropharia are characterized by crystalline acanthocytes among the hyphae that make up the rhizoids at the base of the mushroom.

• The genus Hypholoma (formerly Naematoloma), is mainly a saprobe on wood and often grows in caespitose clusters. Spore print varies from medium brown to purple brown. These species all share a subcutaneous layer of inflated cells.

• The genus Pholiota is characterized by a dull brown to cinnamon brown spore print. A well-known edible species is the Japanese Nameko mushroom (Pholiota nameko)

• The genus Psilocybe is well-known for its psychedelic mushrooms, such as Psilocybe cubensis. The blue-staining hallucinogenic species of Psilocybe and the non-bluing species of this genus are not directly related to one another, making this genus polyphyletic. Unlike most groups within the Strophariaceae, Psilocybe do not have chrysocystidia on the surface of their lamellae.