Gymnopilus junonius
Species of fungus
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Description
The cap ranges from 5–30 cm (2–12 in) across, bun-shaped at first, then is convex to flat; it is bright yellow-orange in younger specimens and orange-brown or reddish brown in older ones, with a dry scaly surface. The flesh is yellow, the odor mild and taste bitter. The stem is 5–25 cm (2–10 in) long, 1–5 cm thick, and often narrows near the base. The frail ring is dusted with rusty orange spores, and the gill attachment to the stem is adnate to sub-decurrent. It stains red with KOH and turns green when cooked. The spore print is rusty brown.
Unlike psychoactive relatives in the Psilocybe genus, G. junonius lacks psilocybin and does not stain blue, but smaller specimens occasionally exhibit bruising. This mushroom usually grows in clusters from several to several dozen individuals, but sometimes grows solitary. It is inedible due to its bitter taste.
Similar species
This mushroom is often mistaken for Gymnopilus ventricosus, which also contains no psilocybin, and G. luteus and G. subspectabilis, which do. It also resembles Armillaria mellea and Omphalotus olivascens.
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Distribution and habitat
Gymnopilus junonius is found in Europe, Australasia and South America. It grows in dense clusters on stumps and logs of hardwoods and conifers. This mushroom is most common in moist, lowland wooded areas near rivers.
This species does not occur in North America, with similar mushrooms often being misidentified.
Biochemistry
This mushroom contains bis-noryangonin and hispidin, which are structurally related to alpha-pyrones found in kava. It also contains neurotoxins known as oligoisoprenoids, such as gymnopilin.