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Psilocybe semilanceata (UK populations)

Common name: Liberty Cap (UK)

Field Identification

Cap0.5-1.5 cm, distinctly conical with sharp papilla (nipple-tip), hygrophanous, olive-brown to pale when dry
GillsAdnate to adnexed, pale gray to dark purple-brown, close
Stem4-10 cm, very slender, pale with slight blueing at base
Spore PrintEllipsoid, 10.5-15 x 6.5-8.5 um, dark purple-brown spore print
HabitatUnfertilized pasture, moorland, coastal grassland; often with sheep or cattle
DistributionUnited Kingdom, Ireland; among the most widely distributed psychedelic mushrooms
SeasonAugust-November, peak September-October

Key Identification Feature

Sharp pointed papilla (never seen in Galerina); grassland/pasture; UK distribution

⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes

Galerina marginata growing nearby on grass (deadly; rusty spore print; no papilla); Conocybe species (more fragile; rusty-brown spores)

Notes

Liberty caps are the most commonly encountered psychedelic mushroom in the UK and Ireland. Possession is Class A (same as heroin) in the UK. The sharp, persistent papilla is the key identification feature. Most commonly found in unfertilized pastures that have been grazed by sheep or cattle for decades.

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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