Fungus · GBIF taxon 2529827
Conocybe apala
conocybe apalaAlso known as White Duncecap, Milky Conecap, Cone Conocybe
White duncecaps are delicate, ephemeral lawn mushrooms that appear overnight in wet grass and wither away by midday. Their pale, cone-shaped caps resemble tiny dunce caps, balancing on incredibly fragile, thread-like stems. They play an important ecological role by breaking down decaying thatch and organic matter in lawns, meadows, and parks.
EphemeralLawn-DwellingSaprobic
1 / 7- diet
- Saprobic (decomposes dead grass and organic matter)
- family
- Bolbitiaceae
- threats
- Lawn mowing, chemical fungicides, and habitat drying
- life Span
- A few hours (fruiting body); years (underground mycelium)
Not Evaluated
Toxic if ingested; many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes, so never eat wild fungi based on app identification.
Contains gastrointestinal irritants and potentially harmful toxins that cause severe stomach upset if consumed.
Observe these delicate mushrooms where they grow without disturbing or harvesting them.- Morning observation: Search early in the morning after a rainy night before the sun dries them out.
- Gentle handling: Avoid touching the stems, as they snap under the slightest pressure.