Pluteus

Pluteus is a large genus of fungi with over 300 species. They are wood rotting saprobes with pink spore prints and gills that are free from the stem. Pluteus means shed or penthouse. Pluteus is separated from Volvariella due to the lack of a volva, and from Entoloma by growing on wood and by microscopic features (Entolomas have angular spores). Some of these mushrooms are edible including P. petasatus and P. cervinus, though most people rate their taste and consistency as average at best. Pluteus cervinus is the best known species in Europe and North America. Several species of this genus bruise blue and contain psilocybin including Pluteus brunneidiscus, Pluteus salicinus, Pluteus cyanopus, Pluteus glaucus, Pluteus nigroviridis, Pluteus phaeocyanopus and Pluteus villosus.