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Paneolus moth (bell-shaped asshole, Paneolus bell-shaped, moth moth) is a dangerous hallucinogenic mushroom of the Dungweed family. Representatives of this group prefer moist, fertile soil and feed on wood debris. The variety is classified as inedible due to the harmful substances contained in its pulp.
What Paneolus moth looks like
Paneolus moth is a lamellar mushroom. Its fruiting body has a clearly defined upper and lower part.
Description of the cap
The upper part measures from 1.5 to 4 cm. The shape is conical and becomes bell-shaped as it grows. The edges bend inward, then straighten. Parts of the bedspread are located on the hat.They are distinguished by their white color and ragged shape. In an adult Paneolus they are noticeable.
The hat is dry, with a smooth surface. After rains it becomes sticky. The surface is brown with olive and gray tints. In adult representatives it is lighter. The top often has a yellowish or reddish undertone.
The pulp is thin, the color is gray or brown. There is no smell. The plates are wide, narrow, pale gray in color. They grow to the leg, but can be separated from it. The edges are light, sometimes turning black with age.
Description of the leg
The leg is thin and long. Its thickness ranges from 2 to 4 cm. The length reaches 7-13 cm. The inner part is hollow, the flesh is thin, and breaks easily. The thickness is the same, sometimes there is an extension at the top or bottom. The stem is striped, young mushrooms have a whitish coating. The main color is gray-brown. When pressed, the flesh darkens.
Where and how does it grow
Paneolus moth is found in pastures, forest edges and meadows. Prefers rotten grass or wood. It is often found in cow or horse manure. It grows in large groups, sometimes single specimens are found.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The variety is included in the inedible group. It is not recommended to eat it in any form. The pulp contains psilocybin, a substance with hallucinogenic properties.
Doubles and their differences
Externally, Paneolus moth is similar to different types of mushrooms:
- Paneolus is semi-ovate. Another representative of the Dungweed family.Information about its edibility is contradictory, but many sources classify it as hallucinogenic. The main features are the light color and the ring on the stem.
- The dung beetle is white. An unusual variety with an elongated cap up to 20 cm high and up to 10 cm in diameter. Its shape is elongated-ovoid, white or gray in color. The height of the fruiting body is up to 35 cm. Young specimens whose plates are not colored are conditionally edible. In Western European countries, dung beetle is considered a delicacy.
- Candoll's false foam. A conditionally edible double that can be consumed after heat treatment. The apex is bell-shaped, measuring from 3 to 8 cm. The edges are wavy, the color is yellowish or cream. The pulp is thin and fragile. There is a thickening in the lower part of the fruiting body.
Conclusion
Paneolus moth contains hallucinogenic substances and is dangerous to human health. The fruiting body has a number of features that distinguish it from its counterparts. Most of them are poisonous or conditionally edible.
