Gilled mushrooms
Liberty cap
Psilocybe semilanceata · also known as: Magic mushroom
Poisonous
Poisonous – contains psilocybin, which causes hallucinations, perceptual disturbances and a drop in blood pressure; hospitalisations occur. According to Polish Wikipedia, psilocybin is on the list of group I-P psychotropic substances annexed to the Polish Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction, and possessing it contrary to the regulations is punishable.
How to recognise it: liberty cap
- 1
Small, sharply conical cap with a nipple
- 2
Long, thin, elastic stem
- 3
Dark gills and spore print
- 4
Pastures and mountain meadows, autumn
Description
- Cap
- 0.5–2 cm, sharply conical to bell-shaped, usually with a sharp nipple at the top, never expanded; hygrophanous: olive-brown when moist, straw-coloured when dry; sticky, the cuticle rubbery.
- Gills
- Gills broad, narrowly adnate, light brown, then dark brown (snuff-brown) with a paler edge. Spore print dark brown with a violet tinge.
- Stem
- 5–10(15) cm, 1–3 mm, thin, elastic, wavy, hollow, pale ochre; sometimes bluish-green at the base.
- Flesh
- Thin; may turn blue at the stem base (a weakly expressed or absent feature).
- Smell and taste
- No distinct smell or taste (or musty). Do not taste.
Where and when it grows
Open land: pastures (especially grazed by cows and sheep), meadows, mountain pastures, lawns, verges; in grass and moss in damp places. Does not grow on fresh dung. Not very common in Poland, mainly in the mountains and foothills.
Foragers’ finds
All photosPhotos and identifications are added by users; we do not check them. Add your own find →
Protection and sale
- Species protection: the species is not protected.
- Sale: the species is not on the list of mushrooms approved for sale.
Liberty cap: common questions
Is the liberty cap edible?
Poisonous. Poisonous – contains psilocybin, which causes hallucinations, perceptual disturbances and a drop in blood pressure; hospitalisations occur. According to Polish Wikipedia, psilocybin is on the list of group I-P psychotropic substances annexed to the Polish Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction, and possessing it contrary to the regulations is punishable.
When does the liberty cap grow?
In Poland the fruiting bodies usually appear in: August, September, October. Habitat: Open land: pastures (especially grazed by cows and sheep), meadows, mountain pastures, lawns, verges; in grass and moss in damp places. Does not grow on fresh dung. Not very common in Poland, mainly in the mountains and foothills.
Sources
- Łysiczka lancetowata – Wikipedia (PL)
- Psilocybe semilanceata – Atlas grzybów Polski (grzyby.pl, M. Snowarski)
- Psilocybe semilanceata – First Nature
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.
