Psilocybin

Mushrooms

of North America

By Alan Rockefeller

Revision 1.4

09/07/12

alanrockefeller@gmail.com

Psilocybin Mushroom Basics

There are roughly 200 species of psilocybin mushrooms known to science.

The majority of these are in the genus Psilocybe, pronounced sigh-lah-seh-bee,

however psilocybin is found in ten genera of mushrooms.

All Psilocybes contain psilocybin, but not all psilocybin mushrooms are in the

genus Psilocybe.

All psilocybin mushrooms contain the hallucinogenic tryptamines psilocybin,

psilocin, baeocystin and nor-baeocystin. The ratio of these chemicals varies by

species and is likely to contribute to different effects.

Psilocybin is metabolized in the body to psilocin, which causes most of the

hallucinogenic effect. The amount of blue staining is directly correlated with

the concentration of psilocin.

The identity of the blue color is unknown.

99.9% of the psilocybin mushrooms available on the black market are

Psilocybe cubensis.

All psilocybin mushrooms are saprotrophs except for

Inocybe species, which are mycorrhizal.

The main substrates for psilocybin mushrooms are

wood, dung, and grass.

All psilocybin mushrooms have attached gills (except

for Pluteus) and non-white spores.

All the mushrooms in this presentation stain blue when

damaged unless noted otherwise.

Psilocybin mushrooms grow in unusual places. Often

they can be found in the landscaping around police

stations, libraries, city hall, fire stations and other

seemingly unlikely spots. In Mexico they are primarily

found in landslides.

Psilocybin Mushroom ID

All mushrooms that have a black or dark purple brown spore

print and stain blue where damaged are psilocybin

containing species.

There are toxic blue staining mushrooms. Most are boletes.

Psilocybin mushrooms retain their blue color when dried.

There are no toxic mushrooms which contain psilocybin.

Often a microscope is required to ID Psilocybes to species,

however a microscope is not required to determine if a

mushroom contains psilocybin.

Do not mistake greenish or bluish colored mushrooms for

blue staining.

How to Find Psilocybin Mushrooms

1.Find out which psilocybin mushrooms grow in

your area. http://www.shroomery.org/8461/Which-psilocybin-mushrooms-grow-

wild-in-my-area

2.Research the mushrooms. Find out what time of

year they grow, which habitat they prefer, which

substrate they grow on, how rare they are, and

what they look like.

3.Visit the proper habitat at the right time of year.

Bring a digital camera (not cell phone) and always

enable macro mode. Bring the mushrooms home

and make spore prints.

Psilocybin Genera

The following genera have species which contain psilocybin.

•Panaeolopsis (2)

•Panaeolus (3)

•Pholiotina (4)

•Pluteus (6)

•Psilocybe (161)

•Copelandia (11)

•Galerina (1)

•Galeropsis (1)

•Gymnopilus (13)

Inocybe (6)

Species

Copelandia bispora

Copelandia cyanescens

Galeropsis sp.

Gymnopilus luteofolius

Gymnopilus luteus

Gymnopilus spectabilis

Inocybe corydalina

Panaeolopsis sp.

Panaeolus cinctulus

Panaeolus olivaceus

Pluteus salicinus

Pholiotina smithii

Psilocybe allenii

Psilocybe azurescens

Psilocybe aztecorum

Psilocybe baeocystis

Psilocybe caerulescens group

Psilocybe caerulipes

Psilocybe cubensis

Psilocybe cyanescens

Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa

Psilocybe fagicola

Psilocybe herrerae

Psilocybe hoogshagenii var. hoogshagenii

Psilocybe mexicana

Psilocybe muliercula

Psilocybe neoxalapensis

Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata

Psilocybe quebecensis

Psilocybe semilanceata

Psiocybe stuntzii

Psilocybe subtropicalis

Psilocybe pelliculosa

Psilocybe yungensis

Psilocybe zapotecorum

Copelandia bispora

Habitat: Grass or dung.

Until recently, thought to be only a tropical

species.

Recently found in Southern California and

Washington.

Has two spored basidia.

Black spore print.

Copelandia bispora

Photo: Lipa

Photos: Lipa, Workman

Photo by Lipa, Microscopy by Workman

Copelandia cyanescens

Also called blue meanies.

A subtropical species.

Found in cow or horse dung.

Known from Texas, Florida and Mexico.

Commonly cultivated but not often sold.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Workman, Alan Rockefeller

Pholiotina smithii

Habitat: Grass and moss. Occurs in the northern

USA and Canada.

Identification features: White stem which

bruises blue, rust colored spores.

A very small mushroom.

High psilocybin content.

Christian Schwarz

Photos: Wiscokid (3) Psylosymonretuns

(bottom right)

Gymnopilus luteofolius

Prefers conifer wood but also known on cottonwood and

oak.

Widespread. Probably in all 50 states, Mexico and Canada.

Most common on the west coast.

Purple cap when young, fades to yellowish in age. The cap

often has green spots.

Purple stem and cap context.

Common. Found on mulch piles, phone poles, conifer logs,

fence posts, roofs, drains, plants.

Bitter, not potent.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Darvin Deshazer

Photos: Alan Rockefeller and Tim Sage

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Gymnopilus luteus

Common on hardwood logs in the midwest and

eastern US.

Often has green stains on base of the stem.

Swollen stem base.

Bitter, not potent. But often there are many.

Photo: John Carl Jacobs

Photos: Hamilton (3) and Dan Molter

Gymnopilus junonius

Collections from the east contain psilocybin.

Collections from the west do not contain psilocybin.

Also contains bis-noryangonin and hispidine, which are

structurally related to alpha-pyrones found in kava.

Has a well developed annulus.

Sometimes has greenish stains.

Bitter. Potency variable but generally low.

Photo: Hugh Smith

Photo: Ron Lawrence

Inocybe corydalina

Forms a mycorrhizal assosciation with Oak and Willow.

The only mushroom in this presenation which can not be grown in a lab.

Odor of cinnamon.

Untested locally.

Photo: Irene Andersson

Photos: Subbedhunter420, Roberto

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Panaeolopsis sp.

Common in lawns in southern California.

Widely distributed in the United States.

Probably an undescribed species.

Perhaps a secotoid form of Panaeolus fimicola.

Sometimes stains blue.

Forms blue sclerotia in culture.

Photos: Alan Rockefeller, Johnnyblaze2316, CptnGarden

Photos: Alan Rockefeller, Workman

Panaeolus cinctulus

The most common psilocybin mushroom in California

according to Mushrooms Demystified.

Can be found in all 50 states and most countries.

Common on lawns, piles of horse manure, and gardens

fertilized with horse manure. Not found in cow manure.

The lawn variety is smaller and less potent. The manure

variety is roughly as potent as Psilocybe cubensis.

Black spore print. Rarely staining blue, usually at the

base of the stem. Often lacks band on cap.

Photo: Angryshroom

Photos: Tim Sage, Herbert Baker

Microscopy: Workman

Pholiotina smithii

Habitat: Grass and moss. Occurs in the northern

USA and Canada.

Identification features: White stem which

bruises blue, rust colored spores.

A very small mushroom.

High psilocybin content.

Christian Schwarz

Photos: Wiscokid (3) Psylosymonretuns

(bottom right)

Photo by Trigger, Microscopy by Workman

Panaeolus olivaceus

Grows in grass and on dung.

Very widely distributed.

Slightly roughened spores.

Commonly misidentified as Panaeolus

castaneifolius.

Photos: Mikael, Mushroomexplorer

Photo by Mikael, Microscopy by Workman

Pluteus salicinus

Habitat: On logs in the forest.

Very widely distributed.

Not rare, but not commonly found because of its

small size and dull colors.

Has pink spores and free gill attachment.

Photo: Bob Zimmer

Photos: Darvin Deshazer, Weiliiiii, Bobzimmer

Micrograph by Zaca

Psilocybe allenii

Habitat: On wood chips in cities.

Found along the west coast from San Diego to Washington.

Most common in the San Francisco Bay Area. Never

reported from the woods.

Usually within 50 miles of the coast.

Fruits early in the season. Requires cold temperatures to

fruit.

A newly described species similar to Psilocybe cyanescens

and P. subaeruginosa. Formerly Psilocybe “cyanofriscosa”.

Very potent. Easy to cultivate in outdoor patches.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Alan Rockefeller, Peter Werner

Pleurocystida micrograph by Peter Werner

Psilocybe azurescens

Habitat: Occurs naturally only on coastal dune

grasses within a few miles of the

Oregon/Washington border.

Occurs at the same time as Psilocybe

cyanescens. Requires cold temperatures to fruit.

Sometimes cultivated on wood chips, usually

outdoors.

The most potent psilocybin mushroom known.

Known as “flying saucers”, closely related to

Psilocybe cyanescens and P. “cyanofriscosa”.

Photo: Workman

Photo: Bryan Warman

Photos: Shobimono, Workman, Anno

Psilocybe aztecorum

Habitat: Woody debris at high elevation.

Known only from the high mountains of central

Mexico.

Fruits late in the season, September to mid

October.

Like all members of section Aztecorum, the cap

turns almost white when it dries.

Mango shaped spores.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Psilocybe baeocystis

Habitat: Lawns and wood chips.

Occurs in Maine, British Colombia, Washington,

Oregon, and far northern California

Like all members of section Aztecorum, the cap turns

almost white when it dries.

Begins to fruit earlier in the season than P. cyanescens.

Interesting pleated cap margin. Mango shaped spores.

Very small and potent.

Photo: Tim Sage

Photos: Mushroomexplorer , Cyan-shaman, Tim Sage

Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe caerulescens

Habitat: Often fruits in open sandy disturbed areas

where few other mushrooms grow. Common in

landslides.

Rare in the southeastern US. Common in central

Mexico. Its range extends south to Venezuela.

Fruits June through October.

Often shares the same habitat with Psilocybe

zapotecorum.

Stem with floccose mycelium on the bottom half.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Photo by SEmushroomHunter (South Carolina collection), Microscopy by Workman

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Psilocybe caerulipes

Found in woody forest debris and wood chips. Widely

distributed on the eastern half of the US and south east

Canada.

A small species which has a striate margin and lacks an

annulus.

Intense blue staining when damaged.

Easily confused with Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata and P.

quebecensis.

Photo: Christian Schwarz

Photos: The Thinker, Dan Molter

Photo by vjp, Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe cubensis

Habitat: Usually on cow dung but sometimes on

horse, elephant or water buffalo dung.

Found in subtropical areas around the world

including the southeast US and Mexico. Never

grows wild on the US west coast or in the north.

A large species with medium potency.

Very easy to cultivate.

The only species commonly found on the black

market.

Photos: Alan Rockefeller, Mycophiliac

Photo: Billbraski

Photos: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Psilocybe cyanescens

Habitat: On wood chips in cities and coastal dune grasses.

Found along the west coast from San Diego to Alaska.

Almost never found in the woods.

Usually within 50 miles of the coast.

Fruits early in the season (October through February).

Requires cold temperatures to fruit. In the PNW the season

peaks in November, in California around Christmas.

A small to medium sized species with high potency.

Easy to cultivate in outdoor patches.

Photo: Fahkface

Photo: Nightflyer

Photo: Nightflyer

Photo: Tim Sage

Photos: Psillygirl, Nightflyer, Alan Rockefeller

Micrographs by Peter Werner

Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa

Habitat: On wood chips and lawns in cities.

Not common.

Found along the west coast from Northern

California to Washington. Almost never found in

the woods.

Commonly confused with Psilocybe

cyanofriscosa.

Photo: Ganymede

Photos: bfogg7806

Photo by Ganymede, Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe fagicola

Habitat: In the cloud forests of Veracruz

and Oaxaca, 1800 – 2200 meters elevation.

Found out in the woods, not in landslides.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos Alan Rockefeller

Photo by Alan Rockefeller, Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe herrerae

Found in the woods in southern Mexico.

Psilocybe hoogshagenii var. hoogshagenii

Found in landslides in Oaxaca.

Psilocybe mexicana

Habitat: Grassy areas where horses have grazed.

Common in Mexico, also known from

Guatamala.

Fruiting June through August.

Little to no blue staining due to the dark color of

the basidiomata.

Some strains form sclerotia.

Sometimes cultivated indoors.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Ehecatl (Alonso), Alan Rockefeller

Psilocybe muliercula

Habitat: Disturbed ground, ravines and

landslides 1800 – 3200 meters elevation.

Very rare, known only from Mexico.

Described without pleurocystidia, however it is

actually present.

Found in Michoacan, District Federal, Puebla

and Veracruz.

Photo by Cactu, Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe neoxalapensis

Found in the forests of Veracruz.

Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata

Habitat: Woody forest debris and wood chips.

Recently described from Ohio. Has been found in many

eastern states and the west coast from San Diego to

Washington.

Recent unpublished DNA analysis shows that the western P.

subaeruginascens sensu Guzman is actually P.

ovoideocystidiata.

Prefers warmer temperatures than many other woodlovers.

Can fruit any time, but is most prolific in spring.

The name refers to the ovoid pleurocystidia.

Photo: Dan Molter

Photo: Nightflyer

Hamilton, Roberto,

Photos: Hamilton, Alan Rockefeller, Roberto

Micrographs by Roberto, SEM by scout24. DIF micrographs by Peter Werner

Psilocybe pelliculosa

Habitat: On woody debris at the edge of confier

forests.

Known from Northern California, Oregon,

Washington and Europe.

Not uncommon in certain areas, but easily

overlooked.

Not very potent.

Photo: Jimmytheworm

Photos by Jimmytheworm, SEM by Briekat. Micrograph by Alan Rockefeller

Psilocybe quebecensis

Habitat: On forest debris and wood chips.

Known from Quebec and Michigan.

Rare, small, inconspicuous.

Photo by Fetalscab, Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe semilanceata

Habitat: Grassy fields, usually where animals graze.

Sometimes found in lawns.

Occurs in Northern California (North of Arcata),

Oregon, Washington, the north east coast, south east

Canada, Minnesota, Europe and Australia.

Commonly collected by psilocybin mushroom hunters

who call them “liberty caps”.

Usually not staining blue due to the low amount of

psilocin.

Very potent due to the high amount of psilocybin.

Photo: Curecat

Photos: Kaal-kopje, Dan K., uarewotueat

Microscopy by Workman

Micrographs by Peter Werner

Psilocybe stuntzii

Habitat: Lawns and wood chips.

Known from Oregon, Washington, and Northern

California. Rare in the San Francisco Bay Area,

not recorded further south. Recently a collection

was found in Rhode Island..

Fruits earlier in the season than Psilocybe

cyanescens.

Has an annulus and subrhomboid spores.

Weakly staining blue. Not very potent.

Photos: Sovereign, Mushroomexplorer

Photo by Grzyby, Microscopy by Workman

Psilocybe subtropicalis

Found in mesophytic forests in open places.

Known from Mexico and Guatemala.

Psilocybe villarrealiae

Habitat: Forest debris.

Sometimes shares habitat with Psilocybe

zapotecorum.

Fruits June through September.

Known only from Mexico.

Similar to Psilocybe caerulescens and P. weilii.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Cactu, Alan Rockefeller

Photo by Cactu, Microscopy by Workman

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Psilocybe weilii

Habitat: Woody debris and lawns. Often under lolloby

(sp?) pine and in bermuda grass.

Fruits in spring, summer, and fall.

Known only from northern Georgia, where it is

common.

Recently described, named in honor of Dr. Andrew

Weil.

Similar to Psilocybe caerulescens and P. villarrealiae.

The only member of the Mexican derrumbe group of

mushrooms that fruits commonly in the US.

Photos: Northgahunt, Gumby, Citricacidx

Psilocybe yungensis

On well decayed wood in southern Mexico.

Psilocybe zapotecorum

Habitat: Woody debris, steep ravines and

landslides, usually near water. Often in areas

disturbed by road construction.

Fruits in June through October.

Widely distributed in Mexico and South

America.

A classic Mexican “derrumbe”.

Often fruits in large clusters. Sometimes very

large. Strongly staining blue and very potent.

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photos: Alan Rockefeller, Cactu

Photo by Cactu, Microscopy by Workman

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Toxic Lookalikes

Very few people get poisoned picking psilocybin

mushrooms, but over the years a few people

have died from amatoxin poisoning.

Galerina marginata can have a bluegreen tint to

the stem. It does not stain blue, it starts out that

way. The stem is covered with white mycelium

which can make it look a lot like a Psilocybe. It

sometimes occurs in the same wood chip habitat

as many Psilocybes.

Galerina marginata

Photo: Hamilton

Pholiotina rugosa

Photo: Nathan Wilson

Inocybe calamistrata

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Photo: Alan Rockefeller

Legal Issues

Though psilocybin mushrooms have never

caused a death, psilocybin and psilocin are

illegal in nearly all countries because politicians

are frightened by hallucinogenic drugs.

When picking psilocybin mushrooms, always

pick the other mushrooms you see too. That

way if you get stopped by the police you are just

a nature enthusiast .

If stopped by the police, never admit that the mushrooms

you have are hallucinogenic. Police are not mushroom

identification experts and they can only rely on your

actions and what you tell them about the mushrooms.

Always mention that you picked all the mushrooms you

came across to bring home and identify. Do not try to hide

the mushrooms if the police come by – that would be

suspicious and picking mushrooms is a perfectly

respectable hobby.

Never consent to a search by rangers or police. Always

politely decline. Always have some non-blue staining

mushrooms to show the police or anyone else who

approaches you while picking. Death caps and Amanita

muscaria make excellent distractions.

Most psilocybin mushrooms are easy to grow – no more

difficult than gourmet mushrooms sold in supermarkets.

Cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is illegal, and police

call it “manufacture of a controlled substance”.

The first rule of psilocybin mushroom cultivation is to tell

no one.

In California, getting caught growing these mushrooms

usually results in three years of probation.

Posting pictures of psilocybin mushrooms on the internet

is relatively safe. Thousands of people do it and no one

has had legal issues stemming from posting pictures.

The spores of psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in

California, but only if you intend to grow them.

Resources

http://mushroomobserver.org

http://www.shroomery.org/forums/postlist.php/Board/3

The Genus Psilocybe by Gaston Guzman

http://forums.mycotopia.net/wild-mushrooming-field-

forest/

Which Psilocybin Mushrooms Grow in my Area?

http://www.shroomery.org/8461/Which-psilocybin-

mushrooms-grow-wild-in-my-area

http://www.youtube.com/user/AlanRockefeller

Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World by Paul Stamets

This presentation: http://plantobserver.org/psilo.ppt