(9 votes, average: 4.22 out of 5)
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Egghead Mottlegill
Inedible 
Autumn 
Spring 
Summer 
Winter 
A fairly common Mottlegill that mainly grows from April to November but can be found in winter if the weather is mild. It is easily identified as it is the only Panaeolus that has a skirt.
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Egghead Mottlegill (EN), Brithdegyll Wyffurf (CY), Kołpaczek Blady (PL), Gyűrűs Trágyagomba (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Panaeolus semiovatus |
| Season Start | All Year |
| Season End | All Year |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 8 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 2.5 |
Cap
Has a buff to tan cap that is usually not smooth but mildly wrinkled. The cap is ‘egg shaped’ and shiny when conditions are wet.
Gills
Crowded, adnate gills that start off white but turn brown to black with a ‘mottled’ surface.
Stem
Has a thin, brittle stem that is buff to tan below the skirt and paler with small black spots above.
Skirt
A pale, upwards facing, ephemeral, small skirt that darkens with age.
Flesh
Pale coloured, darkening slightly towards the base.
Habitat
Mainly on dung in meadows or fields that have been fertilised with dung.
Possible Confusion
Can look similar to the Dung Roundhead (Protostostopharia semiglobata), but it doesn’t have the ‘egg shaped’ cap, the cap is flatter. It has brown spores.
Spore Print
Spore print is black. Spores are ellipsoid, smooth, dark red brow, thick-walled.
Frequency
Fairly common and widespread.
2 comments for Egghead Mottlegill
I believe that P. semiovatus contains small amounts of psilocybin and I am surprised that no one has commented on that. Am I mistaken?
Hi Keeghan,
We are not aware of any European analytical chemistry paper which proved the existence of Psilocybin in Panaeolus semiovatus even in traces, but it doesn’t mean it is impossible. The species is clearly not on the radar of the authorities as a potential Class A drug, so we see no reason to treat it as such. We would never advise of eating it for any reasons, hence it is listed as a ‘Not Edible / Inedible’ species on our website and in our books.