Gymnopilus subspectabilis

🏷️ Description

Gymnopilus subspectabilis, affectionately nicknamed the Big Laughing Mushroom, is a spectacular species of fungus from the Hymenogastraceae family. Known for its psychoactive properties due to the presence of psilocybin, this mushroom is both a scientific marvel and a striking woodland find. Let’s dive into its fascinating traits!

🧢 Cap

• Size: 2–7" (5.5–18 cm), ranging from convex when young to flat with maturity.

• Surface: Dry and scaly or finely fibrillose, especially towards the edges; becomes more scaly with age.

• Color: Pale yellow, transitioning to grayish or brownish-orange when bruised.

• Margin: Inrolled when young.

• Flesh: Pale yellow, developing brownish-orange tones at the base.

🍃 Gills

• Attachment: Broadly attached or adnate.

• Color: White to pale yellow, bruising brownish-orange or light brown.

• Spacing: Close and uniform.

🍂 Stem

• Size: 2–7" tall (5–18 cm) and 0.4–1.1" (1–3 cm) thick.

• Shape: Parallel sides tapering to a sharp base; occasionally swelling in the middle.

• Surface: Moist, nearly scaly or finely fibrillose.

• Color: Pale yellow above a thin, membranous annulus (ring); below the ring, grayish-orange discoloration is common.

🧪 Spores

• Spores: Rusty brown, ellipsoid with roughened surfaces and conical points; darken in KOH.

• Dimensions: 7.1–10 × 4.4–6.2 μm.

• Cystidia: Abundant pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia, often flask- or bowling-pin-shaped.

• Basidia: Four-spored, club- to cylinder-shaped, with central constriction.

🌳 Habitat

• Found saprotrophically on hardwood stumps, logs, and buried wood.

• Grows singly or in large clumps, primarily in deciduous forests.

• Thrives during moist seasons, decomposing organic matter and enriching the soil.

⚠️ Look-Alikes

• Galerina marginata (Deadly) – Light brown spores.

• Omphalotus illudens (Toxic) – Yellow spores.

• Tricholomopsis sp. (Inedible) – Cream-colored spores.

• Cortinarius sp. (Potentially toxic) – Rusty spores.

🌟 Fun Facts & Caution

• Known for inducing hallucinogenic effects due to psilocybin, causing altered perception and euphoria.

• Taste: Bitter.

• Odor: Strong mushroom scent.

• IMPORTANT: Always practice caution when foraging! Proper identification and expert guidance are essential due to similarities with toxic species.

Photo sources:

Photo 1-2 - Author: Annie Weissman (Public Domain)

Photo 3 - Author: Sus scrofa (CC BY 4.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Annie Weissman (Public Domain)