Panaeolus cinctulus

The descriptor subbalteatus comes from the Latin words sub ('somewhat') and balteat ('girdled'), a reference to the dark outer band of the cap. == Description ==

The cap is wide, The spore print is black. The stipe is 4–10 cm long, 1–10 mm thick, equal or tapered at the ends, reddish brown or covered by whitish powder, hollow, no veil remnants, longitudinally white-fibrillose, striate at the apex or twisting vertically down the entire length of the stipe. The stem base and mycelium occasionally stain blue. The taste is farinaceous (like flour) when fresh, saliferous (salty) when dried. The odor is slightly farinaceous. Microscopic features The spores are 11–14 x 7.5–9.5 μm, smooth, elliptical to rhomboid in face view, thick-walled, elliptical in side view. Similar species Morphologically, P. cinctulus can be easily confused with other species of psilocybin mushrooms. They have a resemblance to P. fimicola and prefer the same habitats, but the latter species has sulphidia on the gill faces. It can also resemble P. foenisecii and P. olivaceus. ==Habitat and formation==

Panaeolus cinctulus is a cosmopolitan species that grows solitary to gregarious to cespitose (densely clumped) on compost piles, well-fertilized lawns and gardens, and, rarely, directly on horse dung. It grows from spring to fall, abundantly after rain. It can be found in many regions, including: Africa Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia), Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guadeloupe, Estonia, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, New Guinea, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Romania , Slovenia, South America (Argentina, Chile, Brazil) and the United States (common in Oregon, Alaska, Washington, and both northern and southern California, but known to occur in all 50 states). According to American mycologist David Arora, P. cinctulus is the most common psilocybin mushroom in California. It has also been sighted in Melbourne, Australia, Central Queensland, Australia Belgium and the Czech Republic. ==Legality==

The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Class A (United Kingdom) or Schedule I (US) drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms, including P. cinctulus, is therefore prohibited by extension. However, in many national, state, and provincial drug laws, there is a great deal of ambiguity about the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms and the spores of these mushrooms. Panaeolus cinctulus is mildly psychoactive. ==In culture==

During the early 1900s, these species were referred to as the "weed Panaeolus" because they were commonly found in beds of the commercially grown, grocery-store mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Mushroom farmers had to weed it out from the edible mushrooms because of the psilocybin content. ==Gallery==