Mushroom ID projects. Shroom Field Guide. Psilocybin. Psilocybin[nb 1] (/ˌsɪləˈsaɪbɪn/ SIL-ə-SY-bin) is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms, collectively known as psilocybin mushrooms. The most potent are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens, but psilocybin has also been isolated from about a dozen other genera. As a prodrug, psilocybin is quickly converted by the body to psilocin, which has mind-altering effects similar (in some aspects) to those of LSD, mescaline, and DMT.
In general, the effects include euphoria, visual and mental hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and spiritual experiences, and can include possible adverse reactions such as nausea and panic attacks. History[edit] Early[edit] Modern[edit] Albert Hofmann (shown here in 1993) purified psilocybin and psilocin from Psilocybe mexicana in the late 1950s. Occurrence[edit] An overview on how to find Psilocybin Mushrooms. - Mushroom Hunting and Identification. An overview on how to find Psilocybin MushroomsLast updated 4/17/2010 The reason for writing this guide is that a large percentage of new mushroom hunters go about the process completely backwards.
Tromping around, picking a random mushroom, and then asking if it is a psychedelic type is a great waste of time for both the hunter and the friendly folks who frequent these boards trying to help ID them. Randomly picking a mushroom and finding a psychedelic one with no prior knowledge about it is right up there with winning the lottery. Luckily for us, with a little research and persistence you can increase your odds to “almost certain” if you’re willing to work at it.
Now, I personally love tromping around, picking random mushrooms and trying to figure out what they are, but if your goal is to find a specific type of mushroom, these guidelines will hopefully help. Step 1: Know your location. What state are you in? Step 2: Know your mushroom. Step 4: Know your camera. Step 7: Know this is fun. Making Spore Prints.
Making Spore Prints by Michael Kuo While a single mushroom spore can't be seen by the naked eye, a pile of many spores can--and the color of a mushroom's spores, seen en masse, is a crucial identification feature. Obtaining a mushroom's "spore print" is therefore an essential step in the identification process. Before going through the nuts and bolts of making a spore print at home, it is worth noting that mushrooms frequently make their own spore prints, in nature. If you have ever noticed colored dust covering a leaf or the ground beneath a mushroom's gills or pores, you have probably witnessed this phenomenon. In order to make a spore print at home, you will need to have a relatively mature mushroom. Remove the stem from smaller mushrooms and place the cap, gills or pores downward, on a piece of paper or glass.
While some spore prints can appear within a few hours, it's often best to wait overnight, just to be sure. Psilocybin mushrooms in my area. Throughout the world the species Panaeolus cinctulus (= P. subbalteatus) and several active species of Gymnopilus grow. Rather than create entries for countries, states and provinces which would then have nothing else listed, it is probably a good assumption that these mushrooms grow in those places not listed. If they are not listed for your area, mentally add it.
When researching your mushrooms be aware that many have more than one name. It may be that two names that were thought to be different were shown to describe the same fungus, or that it was moved to a new genus, or a whole host of reasons. For example the mushroom Panaeolus cyanescens was once placed in the genus Copelandia and you will therefore sometimes see it written as Coplandia cyanescens. Both names describe the same mushroom and are interchangeable. The current 'accepted' name is Panaeolus and for continuity it is the name used here. 'Sp.' AlaskaGymnopilus sp.Panaeolus cinctulusPanaeolus fimicolaPsilocybe cyanescens.