could be right it could be a Panaeolopsis species which is a genus of secotioid mushrooms related to the genus Panaeolus, it could also be something like Galeropsis polytrichoides.

To me Weraroa should be a monotypic genus with the single species W. novae-zelandiae.

you amaze me. Another genus for the “never heard of it” column. What, pray tell, leads you to Panaeolopsis? What is Panaeolopsis??

edit: as I’ve begun to answer my own question, I’m only finding pictures of non-secotioid P. nirimbii. Indeed, it seems as though no member of the genus has this characteristic. Initial question still stands: what is your reasoning?

It will be interesting to find out, it will most likely fit into the genus Leratiomyces like most of the other species previously in the genus Weraroa, apart from the type species W. novae-zelandiae which belongs in the Psychedelia clade of the polyphyletic genus Psilocybe.

I know the location of this species is miles from where you are but have you checked out W. patagonica.

All images of L. cucullatus I could find, including those linked, have at least two characteristics I don’t see represented in this admittedly lo-fi photo: the pointed cap and scaly/shaggy stipe. It’s highly likely that this species is not one which occurs in California, or all of North America for that matter, as is so often the case in this part of the world. If we come across it again this year, more thorough documentation (including microscopy) will follow.

My vote goes to Leratiomyces cucullatus.

check out this gorgeous photo of the California version of Weraroa by Bolek Kusnik:

http://tinyurl.com/yfo42ug