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Conocybe cyanopus

Common name: Blue-Footed Conocybe

Field Identification

Cap0.5–1.5cm; conic to campanulate; rust-brown to tawny; hygrophanous; smooth
GillsAdnate; pale becoming rusty-brown at maturity; crowded
Stem3–8cm tall; very slender; pale; hollow; base characteristically blue-staining (giving the common name) — a rare feature in Conocybe
Spore PrintRusty orange-brown — IMPORTANT: unlike psilocybin species which have dark purple-brown spores
HabitatGrassy areas, lawns, compost-rich soil, disturbed ground; common in urban and suburban settings
DistributionNorth America (widespread), Europe; occasionally reported in Australia
SeasonSpring through autumn with sufficient moisture

Key Identification Feature

The rusty-brown spore print (not purple-brown) combined with the blue-staining stem base is a critical identification combination. Most Conocybe species with rusty spores are NOT psychoactive. The blue foot is unusual for the genus — used for identification but does not indicate psilocybin content.

⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes

Conocybe filaris (DEADLY — similar appearance; amatoxin-containing; rusty spore print), Psilocybe species (IMPORTANT: distinguishable by spore color — Conocybe has rusty brown; Psilocybe has dark purple-brown), Galerina marginata (DEADLY)

Notes

Conocybe cyanopus is included in this guide primarily as an educational edge case. Most harm-reduction advice for psychoactive mushroom identification focuses on dark purple-brown spore prints as a positive indicator of psilocybin species. C. cyanopus breaks this rule — it contains psilocybin but produces rusty-brown spores typical of the Conocybe genus. This creates potential for confusion in both directions: mistaking it for a non-active Conocybe, or (more dangerously) assuming any blue-footed mushroom is safe. Do not harvest any Conocybe species for consumption — the deadly C. filaris is in the same genus, shares the rusty spore print, and occurs in similar habitats.

Legal Status Warning Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are controlled substances in most jurisdictions. This guide is for educational purposes only. Wild foraging for psilocybin mushrooms may be illegal in your location. Never consume wild mushrooms without positive identification from an expert mycologist — misidentification can be fatal.

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