Red-cap Psilocybe, Psilocybe squamosa (Pers. ex Fr.) Orton var. thrausta (Schultz ex Kalchb.) Lange syn. Stropharia squamosa var. thrausta (Schultz ex Kachlb.) Lange New syn. Leratiomyces squamosus var. thraustus Cap 2.5-7cm across, convex to obtuse, then campanulate-flattened, with central umbo; intense reddish orange to brick red; viscid, smooth, but with numerous small white evanescent scales at margin. Gills adnate, rather crowded to almost distant, broad; whitish to gray then almost black with pale margin. Stem 60-120 x 3-8mm, long, slender, densely scaly in lower half, brownish orange to red like cap, whitish above the distinct membranous cottony ring, which is soon stained purple-black from spores. Flesh thin; pale cream. Odor not distinctive. Taste not distinctive. Spores ellipsoid, with germ pore distinctly eccentric, 12-14 x 6-7.5µ. Deposit purple brown. Habitat in small scattered clusters on wood chips and twigs. Rather rare. Found over most of North America. Season August-October. Not edible, although placed in Psilocybe this fungus has been found not to be hallucinogenic. Comment Frequently confused with the much duller colored, ochre-brown Psilocybe squamosa (Pers. ex Fr.) Orton, of which it is often regarded as a variety; but the germ pore in that species is centrally placed. Both species possess chrysocystidia, which removes them from the genus Stropharia, where they were formerly placed.