How to identify Panaeolus cinctulus

To correctly identify Panaeolus cinctulus (Panaeolus cinctulus), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   The cap is typically 1 to 3 cm in diameter, conic to convex, and expands to become broadly convex with age. It is smooth, hygrophanous, and reddish-brown when moist, fading to tan or straw-colored as it dries. Often has a darker band around the margin.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   The gills are closely spaced, adnate to adnexed, and initially light brown, becoming mottled with black as the spores mature. They often have a grayish tint.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   The stem is slender, 4 to 7 cm long and 2 to 4 mm thick, equal in width, and brittle. It is smooth, reddish-brown, and lacks a ring.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   Thin and fragile, brownish in color.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   Small to medium-sized mushroom with a conic to convex cap and a slender stem.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Grows in lawns, gardens, and disturbed ground, often in areas enriched with compost or manure. It can be found in both urban and rural settings.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Smooth, hygrophanous

Growth Form

Solitary to scattered

Spore Print

Black

Body color

Reddish-brown when moist, fading to tan or straw-colored when dry

Odor

Farinaceous (like flour) or indistinct

Flesh bruises

Does not typically bruise

Height

4-7 cm

Cap Diameter

1-3 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Adnate to adnexed
• Stem shape: Cylindrical
• Stem surface: Smooth
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Hollow

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