Community find

Panaeolus antillarum

Group: gilled mushroom
Season: It fruits year-round in tropical climates and during the warm, wet months of summer and autumn in temperate regions.
Habitat: This species is coprophilous, meaning it grows directly on dung, particularly from horses and cattle. It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical grasslands and pastures.
Key characteristics: The mushroom features a thick, fleshy, bell-shaped cap that is typically silvery-white to light grey. The surface is smooth but can develop cracks in dry weather. The gills are closely spaced, initially grayish and turning black with age as the spores mature. The stem is solid, white, and can be quite long and sturdy. The spore print is black.
Look-alikes: Panaeolus cyanescens is very similar but can be distinguished by its thinner flesh and blue bruising on the stem. Panaeolus semiovatus is also similar but possesses a distinct ring (annulus) on its stem.
Ecological role: It serves as a primary decomposer (saprobe), specifically breaking down organic matter in herbivore dung and recycling nutrients back into the soil of grasslands.

Reference entries for this find