Inocybe insignis occurs in the Eastern United States.
This medium sized Inocybe mushroom is found in the hardwood forest of Midwestern/Eastern USA. Fruits June through September. Inocybe insignis is interesting in that it produces the psychoactive compound psilocybin. Like some other mushrooms that produce psilocybin, blue staining can occur on all parts.
“Pileus 30–60 mm broad; conic to obtusely conic at first, becoming broadly conic to applanate, with a broad, low umbo; surface dry, radially appressed fibrillose, becoming radially rimose, finely squamulose over the disc, dull brown…to medium orangish brown…, with a slightly darker center, bruising greenish blue …, negative with the application of 15% KOH; context up to 7 mm thick on the disc, whitish, unchanging or slowly turning greenish blue on exposure; odor strongly sweet and fragrant, with a spermatic component; taste not assessed. Lamellae adnate to uncinate; close; with several tiers of lamellulae; at first buff…, becoming dull cinnamon brown…; occasionally staining greenish blue where bruised; edges concolorous, not conspicuously fimbriate. Stipe 50–70 × 3–4 mm; equal above a rimmed, bulbous base; surface dry, densely pruinose the entire length; cortina not observed and presumably absent; dull brown…to pinkish brown…, bruising greenish blue to blackish blue…; basal bulb 6–8 mm broad, subglobose, rimmed, whitish; basal mycelium whitish; context dull cinnamon brown…, unchanging or slowly turning greenish blue on exposure, becoming hollow.”
Contemporary documentation of the rare eastern North American species Inocybe insignis Michael Kuo, P. Brandon Matheny, 2015.
Microscopic features of Inocybe insignis
Encrusted cystidia and stellate spores.
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