The Psilocybe Mushroom FAQ

Version 1.2, HTML Version

[ASCII Version]

Last update: 04 Jul 1995
HTML: 30 Sept 1996

.oOo. Notes .oOo.

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Schizophrenic alternation between "I" and "we" is due to the file being written by two people, not permanent brain damage from mushrooms. =)

This file is purposely not in the usual question-answer, clearly-divided subsections, everything-referenced, no-cute-ASCII-pics format usually used for FAQs. Instead, it's more relaxed and loose, which in our opinion makes for a much better read. Enjoy!

.oOo. Index .oOo.

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Spanish priest Bernardino de Sahagun (ca. 1500 AD) on the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms by the Aztecs:

The first thing to be eaten at the feast were small black mushrooms that they called nanacatl and bring on drunkenness, hallucinations and even lechery; they ate these before the dawn...with honey; and when they began to feel the effects, they began to dance, some sang and others wept.... When the drunkenness of the mushrooms had passed, they spoke with one another of the visions they had seen.

If a youth appeared intoxicated in public... he was punished by being beaten to death with stick or garrotte before all other youths assembled there...to serve as an example.

It is an ancient custom for people to eat mushrooms and these they ate in a trice, as is said. They had had no food exept some cacao drunk the night before. They ate these mushrooms with honey.

The Codex Vienna Mixtec manuscript (ca. 13th-15th century) depicts the ritual use of the teonanácatl by the Mixtec gods. The god known as 7 Flower (his name presented in the pictoral language as seven circles and a flower) was the Mixtec god for hallucinatory plants, especially the divine mushroom, and is depicted with a pair of mushrooms in his hand.

The Aztec also had their god for the entheogens, Xochipilli, Prince of Flowers. He was the divine patron of "the flowery dream" as the Aztecs called the ritual hallucinatory trance.

Mushrooms ingested by the indians were supposedly Psilocybe mexicana or caerulescens and Panaolus sphinctrinus. Stropharia cubensis, which is currently quite popular as it is easy to locate and cultivate, was not introduced to America until the arrival of the Europeans and their cattle. Today indians regard Stropharia cubensis inferior to Ps. mexicana for it grows in dung.

In the beginning of twentieth century interest in psychoactive mushrooms stirred. The teonanácatl was first identified as Lophophora williamsii or peyote, and it was thought that Sahagun had mistaken the cactus for mushrooms. Finally ethnobotanist Richard Evan Schultes and physician Plasius Paul Reko traveled for the mushrooms to Oaxaca, and collected specimens of Panaeolus sphinctrinus. They found out that mushroom ceremonies -- veladas>

Transfer interrupted!

     _     _     _
   / et'e-mol'e-je / 1. the origin and history of words 

These are just the four "biggies". A whole truckload of other indoles are known to exist in Psilocybe mushrooms. Here's a sample of what was found in a batch of Psilocybe baeocystis, excluding the ones mentioned above:

[From A.Y. Leung, A.H. Smith, A.G. Paul, "Production of Psilocybin in Psilocybe baeocystis Saprophytic Culture". J Pharm Sci 54: 1576 (1965).]

Indole derivative	Amount (microg.)
5-Benzyloxy-3-indole acetic acid	2
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine hydrogen-oxalate [aka DMT]	4
Gramine	40
3-Hydroxyethyl indole	2
5-Hydroxy-3-indole acetic acid	2
5-Hydroxyindole	4
3-Hydroxymethylindole	2
5-Hydroxytryptamine creatine sulfate [aka Serotonin]	4
5-Hydroxytryptophane	2
Indole	4
3-Indoleacetamide	2
3-Indole acetic acid	2
3-Indoleacetic acid ethyl ester	2
3-Indoleacetonitrile	2
3-Indolealdehyde	40
3-Indoleacetaldehyde	2
3-Indolecarboxylic acid	4
3-Indolelactic acid	2
gamma-(Indole)-N-butyric acid	4
beta-Indole-3-acrylic acid	2
beta-(Indole-3)-propionic acid	4
Indoxylacetate	2
Indoxylbutyrate	2
Isatin	2
5-Methoxy-2-carboxyindole	2
5-Methoxydimethyltryptamine monooxalate [aka Bufotenine]	4
5-Methoxyindole	4
2-Methylindole	2
3-Methylindole	4
5-Methylindole	4
5-Methyltryptophane	2
N-Methyltryptophane	2
Tryptamine hydrochloride	4
L-Tryptophane	0.8

Yes, Psilocybe mushrooms contain DMT, but in microscopic amounts. DMT is not orally active anyway, so it doesn't do anything.

The effects of psilocybin can be potentiated (made stronger) by taking them with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). The potency is roughly doubled, according to most reports. The best known MAOIs are harmine and harmaline from the plant Peganum harmala (Syrian rue). Combining MAOIs and tryptamines is an unsafe activity; not only are there are number of substances you must avoid during use to prevent a serious hypertensive crisis, but the long-term health effects are unknown. If you wish to know more, consult the Tryptamine FAQ. Personally, I doubt it's worth the risk, if you pick or grow shrooms it's easy to get enough shrooms for a double dose.

.oOo. Psychology .oOo.

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Voyage to the spiritworld ... visions and travels, awesome mental hallucinations. It's a direct ISDN-link to the mother earth, forgiving, gentle substance. You hear the chanting of the planet and the spirit of the mushroom. It's a product of the nature, untied to the actions of men and women roaming this planet. Your body disconnected from the circuit, you may often forget it exists. Six hours -- not too short, not too long. Perfect.

It should be noted that like all 'major' hallucinogens, psilocybin can precipitate psychotic episodes and uncover or aggravate previous mental illness. If you're stressed out or depressed, don't take mushrooms; if you have schizophrenia or something, DO NOT take mushrooms.

ACID IS NOT FOR EVERY BRAIN .... ONLY THE HEALTHY, HAPPY, WHOLESOME, HANDSOME, HOPEFUL, HUMOROUS, HIGH-VELOCITY SHOULD SEEK THESE EXPERIENCES. THIS ELITISM IS TOTALLY SELF- DETERMINED. UNLESS YOU ARE SELF-CONFIDENT, SELF-DIRECTED, SELF-SELECTED, PLEASE ABSTAIN.

--Timothy Leary, Ph.D.

The Entheogen Law Reporter has a publication addressing the legal aspects of Psilocybe mushrooms available by mail for $5.00.

.oOo. Botany .oOo.

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     .-'~~~-.
   .'o oOOOo`.        "I am ... a mushroom
  :~~~-.oOo   o`.      On whom the dew of heaven drops now and then."
   `. \ ~-.  oOOo.           - John Ford
     `.; / ~.  OO:
     .'  ;-- `.o.'
    ,' ; ~~--'~
    ;  ;               [ASCII stolen from Mescalito Ted]
_\\;_\\//_

• Agrocybe farinacea
• Boletus erythropus, manicus, migroviolaceus, niggerimus, kumaeus, reayi [all (@)]
• Conocybe cyanopus, kuehneriana (*), siligineoides (?), smithii
• Copelandia anomala, bispora, cambodginiensis, cyanescens, tropicalis
• Coprinus niveus, patouillardii, narcoticus
• Galerina steglichii
• Gymnopilus aeruginosus, liquiritiae, luteus, purpuratus, spectabilis, validipes, viridans
• Inocybe aeruginascens, coelestium, corydalna, haemacta, tricolor
• Lepiota peele
• Panaeolina foenisecii (%)
• Panaeolus acuminatus, antillarum, ater, cambodginiensis, campanulatus, chlorocystis, foenisecii, firmicola, olivaceus, papilionaceus, retirugis, separatus, tropicalis
• Pholiotina cyanapoda
• Pluteus atricapillus (%), nigroviridis, salicinus
• Psathyrella candolleana, gracilis, sepulchralis
• (Almost) all Psilocybe species

Inclusion on this list does not mean the psilocin/psilocybin content is sufficient for psychotropic activity in practical amounts, for example one would need to eat around a thousand Pluteus atricapillus to get off.

The following hallucinogenic species contain not psilocin/psilocybin but atropine, bufotenine, muscimol and similar nasties:

• Amanita citrine, formosa, mappa, muscaria (*), pantherina, porphyria, regalis, tomentella
• Pholiota squarrosa

Amanita species cause 95% of all deaths from mushroom poisoning. The ones above are (reasonably) safe, the danger lies in correct identification. Death by Amanita poisoning is reportedly an excruciating way to die, since they nuke your liver and the body's own wastes then kill you. Worse yet, the effects only start 3 days after ingestion, and by then it's too late. I would seriously recommend against toying with these; most reports say they're not even fun. If you insist, consult other sources for more information.

.oOo. Mushroom Guide .oOo.

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--cowboy@jax-inter.net

A printout of this part of the text should provide an adequate check-list for mushrooms in the field, but a good mushroom book with color pictures of the mushrooms, preferably at all 4 stages of growth, is invaluable. The set of GIFs at hemp.uwec.edu may be used as a crude substitute, but a book is easier to carry around... =)

For exhaustingly exhaustive and thoroughly technical descriptions of most Psilocybes, the reader is referred to Singer & Smith: Mycologia 58, 263-303 and Høiland: Norw. J. Botany 25(2), 111-122. These two, along with a dozen lesser references, were primary sources in compiling this.

To check the spore color, take two caps, place one on a sheet of white and one on a black paper, or on a glass plate if you plan to use microscope. Place in a draftless place and wait for 6 to 24 hours. The dust-like stuff on the sheet is the spores. Compare the two papers. For size, you'll need a good microscope... =)

The standard identifying mark of most Psilocybes is that they stain blue when touched or cut; unless specifically noted otherwise, assume all mushrooms listed here do. Mind you, this blueing alone is not sufficient for identification as a non-poisonous and hallucinogenic mushroom!

It is strongly recommended that for the first few hunts you go out with a friend who has hunted before and knows what they look like. While there are no poisonous mushrooms that look like the common Psilocybes, there are a whole bunch that certainly will not get you off, and while not lethal they might well be quite unpleasant. So be careful!

.oO Dosage Note Oo.

Whenever possible, dosages in both shrooms and grams of fresh material have been given. As a rule of thumb, for dried shrooms multiply the dosage in SHROOMS by two. There is no reliable way of converting weight in grams from fresh to dry, mushrooms contain approximately 90% water (i.e. 10 grams wet = 1 gram dry) but the figure varies from species to species.

The amount of psilocybin varies very considerably from mushroom to mushroom, depending on factors like age, growing conditions, etc. The variation is up to 4x for mushrooms grown in controlled laboratory conditions, and as much as 10x for ones that are not! With a new batch, always start out low.

When reading the data, remember that psilocybin is almost equal in strength to psilocin. On the other hand, baeocystin does not appear to very hallucinogenic, but it is rumored to account for some of the side effects.

.oO Shroom descriptions in alphabetical order: Oo.

Quick Vocabulary
adnate	Gills that are fully attached to the stem
adnexed	Gills that are partly attached to the stem
apex	Top part of stem (i.e. where it's attached to the cap)
concave	Cap that curves 'inward' (like the inside of a sphere)
convex	Cap that curves 'outward' (like the outside of a sphere)
evanescent	Quickly disappearing veil
fibrillose	Stem that seems to be made of fibers packed together
fissure	Crack or cleft in cap or gills
HD	High dose
hygrophilous	Absorbs water easily
hygrophanous	Becomes translucent when wet
LD	Low dose
MD	Medium dose
mg/g	Milligrams of substance per gram of *dried* mushroom
N/A	Not applicable or not available
seceding	Gills that are detaching/detached from the stem
umbonate	Cap that is shaped like a knob
viscid	Cap covered with sticky coating

And remember, if you think learning these is too hard, try reading Singer & Smith: "Stipe tubular, more rarely subequal, discolors to reddish cinerous, strongly sulcate at apex, glabrous to fibrillose..."

Conocybe cyanopoda
See Conocybe cyanopus

Conocybe cyanopus (aka Conocybe cyanopoda, Galerula cyanopus)
A small and uncommon but relatively strong mushroom, often found on lawns. Found in the northern parts of the U.S., Canada and northern Europe.
CAP	diameter	0.7-2.5 centimeters
	color	rusty/dark brown to black
	appearance	convex, nearly hemispherical, slightly expanding, slightly wrinkled at edges
STEM	diameter	1-1.5 millimeters
	length	2-4 centimeters
	color	white or slightly grayish
	appearance	silky, striated
GILLS	form	not crowded
	color	dull rust brown, white edges
SPORES	color	dull rust brown
	size	6.5-7.5 x 4.5-5 x 4.5-5 micrometers
	shape	ellipsoid, distinct germ-pore
DOSAGE	fresh grams	N/A (LD), N/A (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	9.30-4.50
	mg/g psilocin	0.70-0.00
	mg/g baeocystin	0.30-1.00

Conocybe smithii (aka Galera cyanopes)
This tiny mushroom is scattered among mosses in swamps, boggy areas and ditches. Found in the northern parts of the U.S. and Canada.
CAP	diameter	0.3-1.3 centimeters
	color	ochra/cinnamon brown, darker at edges
	appearance	sharply conical but expands with age, glistens when wet, hygrophanous
STEM	diameter	0.75-1.00 millimeters
	length	1-7 centimeters
	color	pure white
	appearance	fragile, slightly swollen at base
GILLS	form	crowded, broad
	color	ochra/cinnamon brown
SPORES	color	rust cinnamon brown
	size	7-9 x 4-4.5 x 4-4.5 micrometers
	shape	ellipsoid, small but distinct germ-pore
DOSAGE	fresh grams	N/A (LD), N/A (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	N/A
	mg/g psilocin	N/A
	mg/g baeocystin	0.40-0.80

Galera cyanopes
See Conocybe smithii

Galerula cyanopus
See Conocybe cyanopus

Naematoloma caerulescens
See Stropharia cubensis

Panaeolina foenisecii (aka Panaeolus foenisecii, Psilocybe foenisecii, "Mower's mushroom")
A very popular mushroom on lawns, grasses and cattle fields of all kind. Unlike other Panaeolus species it does not grow on dung! Grows from midsummer to first signs of winter. This one's everywhere!!!
CAP	diameter	1-3 centimeters
	color	light brown to dark brown; dries to yellow-brown
	appearance	broad, bluntly conical to bell-shaped, expanding to convex, broadly umbonate, or nearly plane; surface smooth or cracking into scales in dry weather; hygrophanous but not viscid; chestnut- brown to dark brown or cinnamon brown when moist fades as it dries to dingy buff or tan, often with darker marginal band when partially dry; flesh thin and fragile.
STEM	diameter	2-3 millimeters
	length	4-10 centimeters
	color	paler than cap
	appearance	constant diameter, sometimes with enlarged base, fragile, more or less smooth, white to dingy brownish, often becoming brown from the base upward.
GILLS	form	adnate to adnexed or seceding, fairly close
	color	brown to deep/grayish/chocolate brown, faces often mottled and edges paler or whitish
SPORES	color	violet brown
	size	12-17 x 7-9 x 7-9 micrometers
	shape	lemon shaped, large sprouter
DOSAGE	fresh grams	N/A (LD), N/A (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	0.30
	mg/g psilocin	0.00
	mg/g baeocystin	N/A
OTHER	Often found with other Panaeolus species. "Mini-model" of Pa. subbalteatus Very low psilocybin content and some specimens have none at all. TASTES HORRIBLE! Tea recommended.

Panaeolus acuminatus (aka Panaeolus rickenii)
Grows in horse pastures and rarely on horse manure. From midsummer to the borders of winter. This fragile shroom is quite popular in Scandinavia and northern Europe.
CAP	diameter	1-2 centimeters
	color	dark brown/black when wet, dark grey when dry, light brown from the center
	appearance	cone-shaped, hygrophilous
STEM	diameter	1-3 millimeters
	length	5-12 centimeters
	color	greyish
	appearance	N/A
GILLS	form	crowded together
	color	grey to black, white tips
SPORES	color	violet brown
	size	12-16 x 8-11 x 8-11 micrometers
	shape	lemon shaped
DOSAGE	mushrooms	40 (LD), 100 (MD), 150 (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	N/A
	mg/g psilocin	N/A
	mg/g baeocystin	N/A
OTHER	Makes a good strawberry milkshake!

Panaeolus ater
Fruits in forest clearings and cow pastures from spring to fall.
CAP	diameter	1-2 centimeters
	color	dark brown when wet, pale yellow-brown when dry
	appearance	bell-shaped, spreads until hemispherical, smooth, hygrophilous
STEM	diameter	1-3 millimeters
	length	3-7 centimeters
	color	paler from tip, darker from bottom
	appearance	N/A
GILLS	form	narrowly attached
	color	first dark grey then black
SPORES	color	N/A
	size	9-14 x 6-7.5 x 6-7.5 micrometers
	shape	lemon shaped
DOSAGE	fresh grams	N/A (LD), N/A (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	N/A
	mg/g psilocin	N/A
	mg/g baeocystin	N/A

Panaeolus benanosis
See Panaeolus subbalteatus

Panaeolus campanulatus
Grows in cattle pastures and especially on horse manure, from midsummer to fall.
CAP	diameter	2-4 centimeters
	color	brown/gray/olive gray when fresh, reddish-brown and paler olive/tan/buff when drier
	appearance	bluntly conical or bell-shaped, expands very little with age; surface not viscid, often shiny when dry, smooth or finely wrinkled or often cracking to form scales (especially in sunlight); margin hung with small, white, toothlike veil remnants, at least when young; flesh thin and fragile
STEM	diameter	1-3 millimeters
	length	5-15 centimeters
	color	grey or greyish brown
	appearance	equal or thicker at apex, brittle or fragile, slightly powdered
GILLS	form	adnate or adnexed but often seceding, fairly close
	color	first grey, blacken with age; edges whitish
SPORES	color	black
	size	13-18 x 7-12 x 7-12 micrometers
	shape	elliptical and smooth
DOSAGE	mushrooms	N/A (LD), 40-50 (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	N/A
	mg/g psilocin	N/A
	mg/g baeocystin	N/A
OTHER	Psilocybin content evidently varies, some people have eaten over 100 of these with no effects.

Panaeolus foenisecii
See Panaeolina foenisecii

Panaeolus rickenii
See Panaeolus acuminatus

Panaeolus sphinctrinus
Grows on manure of all kind, from summer to fall.
CAP	diameter	1-4 centimeters
	color	grey to greyish brown, paler when dry
	appearance	bell-shaped, usually smooth but sometimes bumpy, not hygrophilous, white scales on the edge
STEM	diameter	1-3 millimeters
	length	5-12 centimeters
	color	grey, paler from tip
	appearance	erect, powdery
GILLS	form	adnate
	color	grey brown/black, white tips, veil remnants
SPORES	color	N/A
	size	14-18 x 8-12 x 8-12 micrometers
	shape	lemon shaped, with germ-pore
DOSAGE	mushrooms	N/A (LD), 200 (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	1.90
	mg/g psilocin	N/A
	mg/g baeocystin	N/A

Panaeolus subbalteatus (aka Panaeolus benanosis)
Widespread, found in temperate zones including Canada, the northern parts of the U.S. and northern Europe. Grows on grasses, lawns, pastures, roadsides; prefers fertilized or manured soil. Grows in the spring and fall.
CAP	diameter	2-6 centimeters
	color	variable; brown to reddish/cinnamon brown when moist, fading as it dries to tan/buff/whitish, margin often stays darker when dry
	appearance	broad, convex or bluntly conical, becoming broadly convex to broadly unbonate to plane or with an uplifted margin; surface smooth or wrinkled, in age sometimes breaking into scales(fissured), not viscid; flesh thin, brownish
STEM	diameter	3-5 millimeters
	length	5-10 centimeters
	color	brown to reddish-brown, often dusted by spores
	appearance	equal or tapered at either end, hollow but not fragile; usually longitudinally striated throughout.
GILLS	form	adnate to adnexed or sececing, close, broad
	color	pale watery brown or reddish brown, darkens gradually to black; edges whitish, faces mottled
SPORES	color	dark brown
	size	11-14 x 7-9 x 6-8 micrometers
	shape	lens shaped, with germ pore
DOSAGE	fresh grams	30 (LD), 60 (MD), 100 (HD)
	mushrooms	5-10 (LD), 20-40 (MD), 60-90 (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	1.50-6.00
	mg/g psilocin	0.00
	mg/g baeocystin	0.01-0.05
OTHER	Often forms tufts of 2-4 fruitbodies. There are several distinct subtypes of Pa. subbalteatus, this is the most common one. Pa. subbalteatus bears some resemblence to Panaeolina foenisecii.

Psathyra pelliculosa
See Psilocybe semilanceata

Psilocybe aerugineomaculans
See Psilocybe subaeruginascens

Psilocybe atrorufa
See Psilocybe montana

Psilocybe aztecorum (aka Psilocybe mexicana var. longispora)
Found only around Paso de Cortes and Puebla, Mexico, between 3300 and 3700 m elevation. Found in small clusters in open pine woods, fruits in September only.
CAP	diameter	1.5-2.5 centimeters
	color	milk white to yellowish
	appearance	starts obtuse to subumbonate, expands to broadly conical; edge of cap may become cracked
STEM	diameter	0.2-0.4 centimeters
	length	3.0-6.0 centimeters
	color	whitish, possibly with gray discolored portions
	appearance	fibrous, veil remnants may be visible
GILLS	form	closely spaced, broad
	color	deep purple brown, pallid/whitish edges
SPORES	color	dark dull ochra brown
	size	11-14 x 5-8 x 5-8 micrometers
	shape	elongated ellipsoid, with germ pore
DOSAGE	mushrooms	2-3 (LD), 4-10 (MD), 20-40 (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	N/A
	mg/g psilocin	N/A
	mg/g baeocystin	N/A
OTHER	Ps. aztecorum resembles Ps. mexicana to some degree and was originally thought to be a variant. Dosage has been estimated on the assumption that they are equally potent; it is known to be a hallucinogen.

Psilocybe baeocystis
Can be found growing on ground bark, wood chips, peat moss and sometimes on lawns. Common on campuses. This popular mushroom appears from fall through midsummer in large clumps. Prevalent throughout the Pacific Northwest. Fruits prolifically from fall through winter.
CAP	diameter	1.4-5.4 centimeters
	color	olive brown to buffy brown, greenish if touched
	appearance	edge of cap undulates like a bottle cap or umbrella, a brown spot appears in the center of the cap after drying
STEM	diameter	2.0-3.0 millimeters
	length	5.0-7.0 centimeters
	color	white except for yellowish apex
	appearance	often characterized by twisting bends
GILLS	form	relatively closed spaced
	color	dark cinnamon or gray
SPORES	color	gray
	size	10-13 x 6-7 x 6-7 micrometers
	shape	cylindrical with tapered corners
DOSAGE	fresh grams	N/A (LD), N/A (MD), N/A (HD)
	mg/g psilocybin	1.50-8.50
	mg/g ps