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—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Decaying grass thatch
- Soil organic matter
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Fungus gnats
ThreatsLawn mowing, chemical fungicides, and habitat drying
HabitatsLawns, grassy parks, pastures, and manicured meadows
Life spanA few hours (fruiting body); years (underground mycelium)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- Speciesconocybe apala
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic if ingested; many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes, so never eat wild fungi based on app identification.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains gastrointestinal irritants and potentially harmful toxins that cause severe stomach upset if consumed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a tiny, fragile, cone-shaped white to pale cream cap on a very thin, hollow stem in wet lawns.
- What to do
- Observe these delicate mushrooms where they grow without disturbing or harvesting them.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Frequent Companion (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mandy Hackney, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · cc-by
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