Gymnopilus purpuratus is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. [1] It grows in clusters on dead wood, tree stumps and wood chip mulch. It is widely distributed and has been recorded in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, [2] the UK and Germany. It has a broadly convex cap covered in small dry reddish-brown scales, a stout yellow stem beneath reddish brown, wine-red to purple vertical fibres, and a thick rusty orange spore print. [ citation needed]
The fruitbodies can stain greenish, blue and purple when damaged, and the species is psychoactive. A chemical analysis carried out by Jochen Gartz in 1993 found that this species contains 0.34% psilocybin, 0.29% psilocin and 0.05% baeocystin. [ citation needed]
Gymnopilus purpuratus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Basidiomycota |
Class: | Agaricomycetes |
Order: | Agaricales |
Family: | Hymenogastraceae |
Genus: | Gymnopilus |
Species: | G. purpuratus
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Binomial name | |
Gymnopilus purpuratus | |
Synonyms | |
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Gymnopilus purpuratus | |
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Gills on hymenium | |
Cap is convex or umbonate | |
Hymenium is adnate or adnexed | |
Stipe is bare | |
Spore print is yellow-orange | |
Ecology is saprotrophic | |
Edibility is psychoactive |
The cap ranges from 1.5 to 6 cm across, is convex to obtuse, and is reddish brown with a dry scaly surface which is sometimes cracked in age. The stem is brown-red and covered by fibers and has blue-green spots where the stem is damaged. The gills are crowded, yellow to orange, and adnexed. The stem is dusted with rusty orange spores and has a cottony scanty partial veil.[ citation needed]
Media related to Gymnopilus purpuratus at Wikimedia Commons