Wild Species Bluing ✓ Potency: ★★★☆☆

Gymnopilus aeruginosus

Common name: Malachite Gymnopilus

Field Identification

Cap3-10 cm, convex to broadly umbonate, dry, orange-yellow to rusty-brown
GillsAdnate, yellow to rusty-orange, crowded
Stem3-8 cm, orange-yellow to rusty, often clustered, no annulus or with slight fibrous zone
Spore PrintEllipsoid, roughened, 7-10 x 4.5-6 um, rusty-orange spore print
HabitatDead conifer stumps and logs, occasionally hardwoods
DistributionWestern North America — Pacific Northwest coast; parts of Europe
SeasonSeptember-November

Key Identification Feature

Conifer stumps; clustered growth; bitter taste; distinctive blue-green mold often growing with it

⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes

Gymnopilus junonius (larger, more robust, with ring); Pholiota species (not psychoactive, often slimy cap)

Notes

Named for the malachite (blue-green) color of the Trichoderma mold commonly found growing alongside it on the same substrate — not for blue staining of the mushroom itself. Potency is highly variable and many collections are not active.

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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