Wild Species Bluing ✓ Potency: ★★★★☆

Psilocybe cyanescens

Common name: Wavy Caps, Blue Halos

Field Identification

Cap2–5cm; chestnut to tan; distinctly wavy/undulate margin when mature; hygrophanous; thin pellicle
GillsAdnate; pale to purple-brown
Stem4–8cm; silky-fibrous; pronounced blue staining at base
Spore PrintDark purple-brown
HabitatMulched garden beds, wood chips, parks; introduced via wood chip mulch worldwide
DistributionPacific Northwest, Western Europe, parts of Eastern Europe, Australia (introduced)
SeasonAutumn–early winter

Key Identification Feature

The wavy cap margin is definitive when present. Urban habitat (wood chip mulch in parks, gardens, trail edges) is helpful context. Strong bluing at base of stem.

⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes

Galerina marginata (DEADLY — in same wood chip habitat; lacks wavy margin; has ring; rusty spore print), Pholiota spp. (slimy cap; grows in clusters on wood; no bluing)

Notes

One of the most commonly encountered potent Psilocybe in temperate regions due to the global spread of wood chip mulch. The urban habitat makes lookalike confusion especially dangerous.

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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