Panaeolus papilionaceus (Fries) Quélet
Champ. Jura. Vosg. 1: 151. 1872.

Common Name: none

Synonyms: Panaeolus campanulatus, Panaeolus retirugis, Panaeolus sphinctrinus

• Pileus

  Cap 1.5-4.0 cm broad, obtusely conic, becoming bell-shaped; margin at first slightly incurved, then decurved, decorated with white veil fragments, the latter sometimes obscure in age; surface smooth, dry, subviscid in moist weather, olive-brown to grey-brown, occasionally yellowish-brown to reddish-brown at the disc; flesh greyish to buff-brown, thin; odor mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnate to adnexed, sometimes seceding, close, broad, pale grey, the faces mottled darker from maturing spores, edges pallid; in age blackish overall.

• Stipe

  Stipe 6-12 cm long, 2-4 mm thick, slender, fragile, hollow, more or less equal but sometimes slightly enlarged at the apex and base; surface striate above, otherwise pruinose (at least when young), grey-brown, darker where handled; partial veil fibrillose-membranous, white, evanescent, leaving fragments on the pileal margin.

• Spores

  Spores 12-17 x 7-10 µm, elliptical, smooth, with an apical pore; spore print black.

• Habitat

  Fruiting singly or in small groups on cow/horse manure and in pastures; fruiting spring and fall.

• Edibility

  Not recommended; probably not toxic, but related species maybe mildly hallucinogenic.

• Comments

  Panaeolus papilionaceus is characterized by a grey-brown, smooth bell-shaped cap with appendiculate margin, dark mottled gills with whitish edges, a slender, fragile stipe and a habit of growing on horse/cow dung or in herbivore-enriched pastures. Until recently, this species was a part of a confusing group mushrooms that included Panaeolus campanulatus, P. sphrinctrinus and P. retirugis. However, work by Gerhardt (1996) indicates the latter are conspecific, P. papilionaceus being the oldest valid name. Another dung inhabiting Panaeolus that may be encountered in our area is P. semiovatus a relatively large species which has a smooth, pale colored cap and an annulus.

• References

  Bougher, N.L. & Syme, K. (1998). Fungi of Southern Australia. University of Western Australia Press: Nedlands, Australia. 391 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
• Boleslaw Kuznik: Panaeolus papilionaceus (CP)
• Boleslaw Kuznik: Panaeolus papilionaceus (CP)
• Boleslaw Kuznik: Panaeolus papilionaceus (CP)
• Agaricales of the Hawaiian Islands: Panaeolus sphinctrinus (CP)
• Informationszentrale gegen Vergiftungen der Universiteat Bonn Panaeolus sphinctrinus (CP)
• R. A. Chilton: Panaeolus sphinctrinus (CP)
• Pilze, Pilze, Pilze: Panaeolus campanulatus (CP)
• Mushroom Observer: Panaeolus papilionaceus (CP)
• Arora (1986): p. 356 (D & P) [Panaeolus campanulatus]
• Arora (1991): p. 128 (D & CP) [Panaeolus campanulatus]
• Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 4): sp. 316 (D, I, & CP)
• Jordan: p. 238 (D & CP)
• Lincoff: p. 602 (D), plate 87 (CP) [Panaeolus campanulatus]
• McKenny et al.: p. 162 (D & CP) [Panaeolus campanulatus]
• Miller: p. 193 (D) [Panaeolus campanulatus]
• Phillips: p. 205 (D & CP) [Panaeolus retirugis]
• Stamets: p. 78 (D), p. 79 (CP)



(D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)