John Miller
Dung-loving mushrooms, also known as Psilocybe coprophila, are aptly named for their ability to grow primarily on the dung of large herbivores, such as horse or cow manure. They are often found thriving in warm and humid climates, like in East and Central Texas, where they fruit in the spring and fall. These mushrooms are small, with a smooth, viscid cap, and grow saprophytically on dead plants or dung. While they may be unassuming in appearance, they have gained cultural significance due to their production of the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin, earning them the moniker magic mushrooms or shrooms. Dung-loving mushrooms have a long history, even noted by the Franciscan missionary Bernardo de Sahagun in his accounts of Aztec customs, where they were consumed during feasts for their hallucinogenic properties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Dung-loving Psilocybe, meadow muffin mushroom, dung demon, little brown mushroom (LBM) |
| Scientific name | Deconica coprophila |
| Cap shape | Hemispherical, conic to bell-shaped |
| Cap size | Small to medium-sized, up to 2.5 cm wide |
| Cap color | Red, orangish, brown, tan |
| Gills | Adnate, pale then purplish with white edges, attached to the stem |
| Spores | Land on plants and are later consumed by cows |
| Growth | Found on large herbivore manure, dung of herbivorous mammals, horse or cow dung, straw |
| Region | Much of North America, East and Central Texas |
| Season | July to September, December to May on the West Coast, spring and fall |
| Related species | P. semilanceata (liberty cap), Panaeolus semiovatus (egghead mottlegill mushroom) |
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What You'll Learn
Deconica coprophila, commonly known as the dung-loving psilocybe
The Deconica coprophila has a hemispherical cap that is up to 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) wide and is red, then orangish, usually with a hygrophanous central blotch. The gills are adnate, pale, and purplish with white edges. This mushroom closely resembles D. merdaria, Agrocybe pediades, Panaeolus cinctulus, and members of Protostropharia.
The species grows on cattle dung in much of North America, typically from July to September, and from December to May on the West Coast. It has also been observed growing on wet horse manure in Lick Creek Park in College Station, Texas, in June 2021. The fungus thrives in the warm and humid climate of East and Central Texas and can be found in abundance in areas with suitable substrates, such as horse manure.
The dung-loving psilocybe gets its name from its preference for growing on dung, particularly that of herbivorous mammals. This is because the mushroom breaks down the dung, allowing the spores to be released and find new dung to colonize, producing new fruiting bodies.
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Dung-loving mushrooms grow on large herbivore manure
Dung-loving mushrooms, also known as the "Psilocybe coprophila", are a species of mushroom that grows on the dung of large herbivores, such as horses and cows. They are characterised by their small size, smooth viscid caps, and saprophytic nature, growing on dead plants or dung. These mushrooms are known for producing the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin, which has led to their cultural significance and nicknames such as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms".
The lifecycle of these mushrooms is intriguing. The spores of dung-loving mushrooms are spread onto plants, which are then consumed by herbivores. Passing through the digestive system of these large herbivores, the spores then colonise the dung, producing new fruiting bodies and starting the cycle anew. This process has been observed in the wild, with Deconica coprophila, a species of dung-loving mushrooms, thriving on cow patties in pastures and grasslands of Texas.
Deconica coprophila, also known as the "dung-loving Psilocybe", was first described by Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard in 1793. It has a hemispherical cap, up to 2.5 centimetres wide, that is red to orangish in colour, with gills that are adnate and pale to purplish with white edges. This species is well-adapted to the warm and humid climate of East and Central Texas and can be found abundantly in areas with suitable substrates, particularly horse manure.
Dung-loving mushrooms are not limited to the species Deconica coprophila, however. Other species, such as Panaeolus cyanescens, Psilocybe atlantis, and Psilocybe cubensis, also thrive on large herbivore manure and straw. These mushrooms can be found in various locations, including North America, where they generally fruit from July to September, and from December to May on the West Coast.
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Dung-loving Psilocybe mushrooms often grow on wet horse manure
The dung-loving Psilocybe mushroom, also known as the meadow muffin mushroom or dung demon, is a species of fungus that grows on dung, particularly that of herbivorous mammals like horses and cows. This mushroom, scientifically known as Deconica coprophila, was first described by Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard in 1793. It typically grows on cattle dung in much of North America, although it has also been found in Southern California and Texas.
The anthropomorphic term "dung-loving" aptly describes the mushroom's preference for growing on dung. However, it is important to note that these mushrooms are not solely dependent on dung as their spores can also land on plants. The spores can then be consumed by cows or other herbivores when they eat the plants, passing through their digestive system and colonizing the dung, creating a continuous life cycle.
Dung-loving Psilocybe mushrooms are a part of the genus Psilocybe, which is known for producing the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. This cultural significance has led to the mushrooms being referred to as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms", with some sanctifying and others vilifying their use. The species Deconica coprophila, however, is a non-bluing (non-hallucinogenic) variety that was transferred to the genus Deconica in the early 2000s due to its lack of psilocybin.
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Dung-loving mushrooms are small with a smooth, viscid cap
Dung-loving mushrooms, also known as the meadow muffin mushroom or dung demon, are a species of mushroom in the family Strophariaceae. They are small with a smooth, viscid cap, growing saprophytically on dead plants or dung. The scientific name for this species is Deconica coprophila, although it was previously known as Psilocybe coprophila. This species was first described as Agaricus coprophilus by Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard in 1793, and it was later transferred to the genus Psilocybe by Paul Kummer in 1871. In the first decade of the 2000s, molecular studies showed that the Psilocybe was polyphyletic, and the non-hallucinogenic species were reclassified under the genus Deconica.
Dung-loving mushrooms are characterised by their small size and smooth, viscid cap. They are known to grow on the dung of large herbivores, particularly that of cows and horses. In addition to dung, these mushrooms also grow well on straw. They are relatively common in East and Central Texas, often found in pastures and grasslands, and have been observed growing alongside other species such as Egghead mottlegill mushrooms. The mushrooms produced by the Deconica coprophila species are small to medium-sized, with conic to bell-shaped caps that are brown to tan in colour. The gills of these mushrooms are attached to the stem.
The species Deconica coprophila is well-adapted to the warm and humid climate of East and Central Texas and can be found in abundance in areas with suitable substrates, such as horse manure. In addition to Texas, this species has been found to fruit in the spring and fall in other parts of the United States, particularly on the West Coast, where they grow from December to May. The dung-loving mushroom is known to resemble other mushroom species, including D. merdaria, Agrocybe pediades, and Panaeolus cinctulus.
The Psilocybe genus, to which the dung-loving mushroom was once classified, is known for producing the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. This has led to cultural significance and the use of these mushrooms as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms". However, the dung-loving mushroom itself does not contain psilocybin and is instead classified as a non-bluing (non-hallucinogenic) species.
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Dung-loving mushrooms are non-hallucinogenic
Dung-loving mushrooms, also known as Deconica coprophila, are a species of fungus that grows on dung, particularly that of herbivorous mammals such as horses and cows. They are characterised as small, brown mushrooms with a smooth, viscid cap, growing saprophytically on dead plants or dung. While they were once classified under the Psilocybe genus, molecular studies in the 2000s revealed that the Psilocybe was polyphyletic. The non-bluing (non-hallucinogenic) species, including Deconica coprophila, were then reclassified under the Deconica genus in the Stropharia family.
The hallucinogenic species of the Psilocybe genus, now the sole occupants of the original genus, are known to produce the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. This chemical has cultural significance and has been used by various civilisations, such as the Aztecs, for its psychoactive properties. However, the non-bluing species of Deconica do not contain this chemical and, therefore, do not induce hallucinations.
Dung-loving mushrooms of the Deconica genus have a preference for growing on large herbivore manure, such as cow and horse dung, and can also be found growing on straw. They are relatively common in East and Central Texas, particularly in the warm and humid climate, and have been observed fruiting in the spring and fall on cow patties in pastures and grasslands.
The lifecycle of these mushrooms involves breaking down cow dung and then being consumed by cows when they eat plants. The spores of the mushrooms pass through the digestive system of the cows and then colonise the new dung, producing new fruiting bodies and continuing the cycle. This lifecycle contributes to the abundance of these mushrooms in certain regions.
While the Dung-loving Psilocybe mushrooms may be non-hallucinogenic, they still hold cultural significance. Their growth habit on dung, which is considered repulsive by some, has led to a mycophobic perspective of these fungi. However, their ability to thrive in such environments showcases the adaptability and diversity of fungal life.
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Frequently asked questions
Dung-loving mushrooms are a species of mushroom that grows on the dung of large herbivores, such as cattle and horses.
The dung-loving Psilocybe, or Deconica coprophila, is a small, non-descript toadstool with a smooth, viscid cap. The caps are typically brown to tan in colour, but can also be red or orange.
Dung-loving mushrooms are found in North America, specifically in California, Texas, and along the West Coast. They grow in pastures and grasslands, often in warm and humid climates.
The anthropomorphic term "dung-loving" is used because these mushrooms grow on and break down cow and horse dung.
