About this fungus
Deadly Conecap is a fungus in the Bolbitiaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small, fragile, brown-spored mushroom with a thin ring, often appearing in wood chips or garden soil. It has no dependable beginner-level field signature.
What to check
Record the complete stem and ring, cap texture and colour change as it dries, gill attachment, rusty-brown spore deposit and substrate. Microscopic characters are required for a defensible species name.
Variation
The hygrophanous cap can shift from orange-brown when moist to much paler when dry. The small ring may break or disappear.
Lookalikes
Many Conocybe, Pholiotina and Galerina species share this appearance. Deadly Galerina marginata is usually wood-associated but overlap is substantial. No photograph can establish safety.
Habitat and range
Saprotrophic on rich soil, woody debris, mulch and landscaped beds across temperate regions. Published use of the names P. rugosa, P. filaris and C. filaris is inconsistent.
Food safety
Deadly poisonous. Amatoxin poisoning can have a delayed symptom-free interval followed by severe liver injury. Suspected ingestion requires urgent poison-centre or emergency medical advice.