WARNING: Unless you are well versed in the identification
of mushrooms, do not try to identify any species of mushroom from
the included pictures without the text descriptions below. And even then be
very cautious. Most species of Psilocybe are considered to be
LBM's (little brown mushrooms) and have thousands of look-alikes (to the
beginner). Eat one wrong mushroom and, up to 2 weeks later
symptoms develop, and the only chance of saving your life is a liver- or
kidney-transplant. A mushroom should never be eaten unless you are
100% sure in its identification. Even experienced mushroom gatherers have
made errors. Do not take this warning lightly.
Your best method to learn how to identify any species is to get to know
someone that does know that species and learn from them. Text and pictures
are poor substitute to the experience of an individual that knows what
they are doing. An experienced mushro om gatherer will know the subtleties
in that species that will help him to reject a look-alike from the target
'shroom. Sometimes it can be just a slight difference in color/tint or
minor texture change, or the plants that are growing around a mushroom that
will let the experienced 'shroomer know which one is safe and which one
is not. If at all possible, you should also have a high-powered microscope
available when trying to identify a species you've never gathered before.
Along with spore-prints, you should look at and measure the actual spore
shape and size. If you are not familiar with making spore-prints, get a
good book on mushrooms that explain the procedure, and always make a print
on a half black and half white surface to help insure your estimation to
a specific shade mentioned. Pay attention to the text below and you will
also notice that some Psilocybe species do not bruise blue. On
further mushroom studies you will find that some deadly species from other
genera do bruise blue. Just because a mushroom bruises blue does
not mean it is safe. Nor that it is hallucinogenic. THERE
IS NO ONE SAFE TEST FOR ANY MUSHROOM!
This compilation of scanned photos and text are not meant to be a total
reference in the identification of these 'shrooms. Some taxonomic
descriptions can be confusing and other books should be used to clarify
the difference between things like "adnate" and "adnexed", or "pendant"
and "flaring" when describing the various parts of mushrooms. As an
example, when gills are "attached" this does not simply mean it has gills,
it refers to the way they are growing from the stalk. I've neither the
time nor energy to type a complete glossary and draw diagrams. If you
want to gather your own 'shrooms, and prevent your own death from a
mistake, I suggest you get more information than is contained in this
collection. And who knows, I may have made a typing mistake here, I'd
hate to think someone died because I accidently typed "attached" where I
should have typed "unattached". I'll do my best to prevent that but there
are no guarantees. Also, there are differences between color
monitors when displaying pictures. Sin ce so much depends on slight color
variations when identifying 'shrooms, I've done all I can to insure these
photos appeared on my monitor as they appeared in the original photos, the
same may not be true on your end. My monitor is supposed to be up
to industry standards. I've no way of checking that to be 100% sure though.
Below are the descriptions of the photos contained in this collection.
Please refer to the name on the photo to the proper text. (Also note that
the inch measurements on the photos are for the cap-width.) Please don't
distribute the accompanying photos without including this text file. You
need both, and maybe even more, to identify these species. A kid with
photo in hand might think that is all he needs to identify a 'shroom and
have a "trip". Please be responsible with this packet of information.
Notes from the ascii translator: Due to this text being typed in plain
ascii, some changes were made from the original text: the word "microns" is
used instead of the greek letter representation; and other liberties were
taken in the paragraph formats, etc. I've also taken the liberty to add
some (Editor's Notes) at the end of some entries.
When in doubt -- do not eat it. When all doubt has been removed --
check again.
There are two kinds of mushroom hunters -- smart ones, and dead ones. Even
some of the smart ones are dead now.
Potent Psilocybe
Psilocybe baeocystis Sing. & A.H.S
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Sticky, conical, brown cap with brownish gills and off-white stalk;
bruising blue. |
| Cap |
5/8" - 2 1/4" (1.5-5.5 cm) wide; conical with incurved margin,
expanding to convex or flat; sticky, olive- to buff-brown, bruising
and aging greenish about margin. |
| Gills |
attached, close, broad; grayish, becoming dark purplish-gray. |
| Stalk |
2" - 2 3/4" (5-7 cm) long, 1/16" - 1/8" (1.5-3 mm) thick; whitish,
covered with small, whitish fibers. |
| Veil |
partial veil evanescent. |
| Spores |
10-13 X 6.3-7 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore
print dark purplish. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
September-November |
| Habitat |
Scattered to numerous, in wood chips, on decayed wood, and decaying
moss. |
| Range |
Pacific NW. |
| Look-alikes |
P. strictipes has long, brittle, straight stalk. The
hallucinogenic P. cyanescens has broad, wavy, knobbed cap.
|
| Comments |
This species is a potent hallucinogen that contains several active
compounds. Its side effects are not well known. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
baeocystis page.
|
Blue-Foot Psilocybe
Psilocybe caerulipes (Pk.) Sacc.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Brownish, knobbed cap, fading to yellow, with brown gills; whitish
stalk bluish at base; on decayed wood. |
| Cap |
3/8" - 1 3/8" (1-3.5 cm) wide; conical to convex with incurved margin,
becoming flat or broadly knobbed; sticky, becoming dry, smooth;
watery-cinnamon to yellowish; bruising greenish or bluish, sometimes
slowly. |
| Gills |
attached, close to crowded, narrow; brownish to rust-cinnamon.
|
| Stalk |
1 1/4" - 2 3/8" (3-6 cm) long, 1/16" - 1/8" (1.5-3 mm) thick,
enlarging to base; whitish, staining greenish-blue.
|
| Veil |
partial veil evanescent. |
| Spores |
7-10 X 4-5.5 microns, (but 10-12 X 5.7 microns from 2-spored basidia);
elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore print dark
purple-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
August-October. |
| Habitat |
Single or in small clusters, on deciduous wood and wood mulch,
especially birch and maple. |
| Range |
Maine to North Carolina, west to Michigan. |
| Comments |
Often overlooked or ignored as just another LBM, little brown
mushroom, this hallucinogenic species turns blue on handling, usually
after several minutes. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
caerulipes page.
|
Dung-Loving Psilocybe
Psilocybe coprophila (Bull. ex Fr.) Kum.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Sticky, brownish cap with brown gills and yellowish-brown stalk. |
| Cap |
3/8" - 1 1/4" (1-3 cm) wide; convex to broadly convex or flat; margin
with whitish patches at first; smooth, dark reddish-brown, fading to
grayish-brown.
|
| Gills |
attached, nearly distant, broad; whitish to brown or
purplish-brown. |
| Stalk |
3/4" - 1 5/8" (2-4 cm) long, 1/16" - 1/4" (1.5-5 mm) thick; whitish,
darkening to brown, but not bruising blue. |
| Veil |
(when present) partial veil evanescent.
|
| Spores |
11-14 X 7-8.5 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore
print purplish-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
June-October. |
| Habitat |
Single to numerous, on horse or cow dung. |
| Range |
Widely distributed in North America. |
| Look-alikes |
P. merdaria has central ring zone on stalk. Stropharia
semiglobata is ringed, yellowish.
Panaeolus species have
black spores. Coprinus species liquefy. |
| Comments |
This weak hallucinogen is the most widespread psilocybe in North
America. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
coprophila page.
|
| editor's note |
Some of the look-alike species are edible, poisonous, or no mention is
made of their bio-chemical qualities. One of the species in the
Panaeolus genus, the Girdled
Panaeolus (Panaeolus
subbalteatus), is mentioned as also being hallucinogenic and
common enough to be considered a weed. No photo or description of it
was included in this set. Check other resources for further info, I'm
only covering some of the psilocybes here. |
Common Large Psilocybe
Psilocybe cubensis (Ear.) Sing.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Large, fleshy, yellowish cap with brown gills and a persistent ring on
stalk; bruising blue; on cow manure. |
| Cap |
5/8" - 3 1/2" (1.5-9 cm) wide; conical or bell-shaped, becoming convex
to flat with central knob; sticky, hairless; white with
brownish-yellow center, becoming entirely brownish-yellow, bruising
and aging bluish. |
| Gills |
attached, close, narrow; gray, becoming deep violet-gray, then black;
edges whitish. |
| Stalk |
1 3/8" - 6" (3.5-15 cm) long, 1/8" - 5/8" (0.3-1.5 cm) thick, becoming
enlarged below; smooth, grooved at top; white, bruising blue. |
| Veil |
partial veil membranous; leaving persistent white ring (soon blackish
from falling spores) on upper stalk. |
| Spores |
11.5-17 X 8-11.5 microns; oval to elliptical, smooth, thick-walled,
blunt, with distinct pore at tip. Spore print purple-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
Nearly year-round. |
| Habitat |
On cow and horse dung in pastures. |
| Range |
Gulf Coast. |
| Comments |
This is an abundant member of the Gulf Coast pastureland flora. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
cubensis page.
|
Bluing Psilocybe
Psilocybe cyanescens Wkfld.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Desciption |
Tacky, wavy, brown cap, fading to yellowish, with brownish gills and
whitish stalk; bruising blue. |
| Cap |
3/4" - 1 5/8" (2-4 cm) wide; convex, becoming nearly flat with
undulating or wavy margin; sticky to moist, smooth; dark
chestnut-brown, fading to yellowish, bruising blue. |
| Gills |
attached, nearly distant, broad; cinnamon-brown, becoming darker. |
| Stalk |
2 3/8" - 3 1/4" (6-8 cm) long, 1/8" - 1/4" (3-5 mm) thick, sometimes
enlarged at base; curved, whitish, bruising blue. |
| Veil |
partial veil white, evanescent. |
| Spores |
9-12 X 5.5-8.3 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore
print purple-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
September-November. |
| Habitat |
Several to many, in coniferous mulch. |
| Range |
British Columbia to San Francisco. |
| Look-alikes |
The hallucinogenic P. baeocystis and P. strictipes lack
wavy margin. |
| Comments |
When ingested in large quantity, this can be strongly
hallucinogenic. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
cyanescens page.
|
Mountain Moss Psilocybe
Psilocybe montana (fr.) Que'l.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Small, dark brown mushroom; in moss. |
| Cap |
1/4" - 1" (0.5-2.5 cm) wide; conical, becoming broadly convex to
knobbed; margin lined; moist, smooth; dark reddish-brown, drying
yellowish-brown. |
| Gills |
attached, almost distant, moderately broad; pale brown, becoming dark
reddish-brown. |
| Stalk |
1" - 2" (2.5-5 cm) long, 1/16" (1.5 mm) thick, sometimes enlarged at
base; dry, smooth, dark reddish-brown. |
| Veil |
partial veil evanescent. |
| Spores |
5.5-8 X 4-5 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore print
purple-brown. |
| Season |
July-September. |
| Habitat |
Single to several, in moss. |
| Range |
W. North America; eastward in mountains. |
| Comments |
Psilocybe is a large genus of mostly small, brownish mushrooms
with purple-brown spore prints. Relatively few are known to be
hallucinogenic. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
montana page.
|
| editor's note |
The text I am typing from makes no mention if this one is or is not
hallucinogenic, nor does it mention its toxicity nor edibility -- be
careful. Even the best reference books don't have sources to know if
certain species are safe to eat or not . I only included this one to
show you that we don't know everything about all mushrooms and should
always be cautious.) |
Conifer Psilocybe
Psilocybe pelliculosa (A.H.S.) Sing. & A.H.S.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Sticky, dark brown, conical cap with brown gills and off-white, hairy
stalk. |
| Cap |
1/4" - 3/4" (0.5-2 cm) wide; conical to bell-shaped; sticky, smooth;
dark brown, fading to tan, bruising blue. |
| Gills |
attached, close, narrow; cinnamon-brown, then darkening. |
| Stalk |
2 3/8" - 3 1/4" (6-8 cm) long, 1/16" (1.5 mm) thick; whitish,
darkening; covered with small, grayish fibers. |
| Veil |
partial veil evanescent. |
| Spores |
9.3-11 X 5.5 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip.
Spore print purple-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
September-November. |
| Habitat |
Several to many, separately or in clusters, on conifer mulch in
woods. |
| Range |
British Columbia to N. California. |
| Look-alikes |
The hallucinogenic P. semilanceata found in manured grass, has
smooth stalk. P. silvatica has smaller spores. |
| Comments |
This species, often confused with the Liberty Cap (P.
semilanceata), lacks its narrowly conical cap and is only weakly
hallucinogenic. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
pelliculosa page.
|
Liberty Cap
Psilocybe semilanceata (Fr. ex Secr.) Kum.
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Slimy, narrowly conical, brown to tan cap with brownish gills and
smooth, off-white stalk; in pastures and manured areas. |
| Cap |
3/8" - 1" (1-2.5 cm) wide; sharply conical, often peaked, and not
expanding; sticky, smooth; brownish, fading to tan, bruising blue on
margin. |
| Gills |
attached, close, broad; grayish, becoming dark brown. |
| Stalk |
2" - 4" (5-10 cm) high, 1/16" (1.5 mm) thick; very thin, whitish. |
| Veil |
partial veil evanescent. |
| Spores |
11-14 X 7-8 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore print
purple-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
Late August-November. |
| Habitat |
Scattered to numerous, in tall grass and grassy hummocks in cow
pastures. |
| Range |
Widely distributed; common in Pacific NW.; also reported in
Quebec. |
| Look-alikes |
The hallucinogenic P. pelliculosa and P. silvatica grow
in wood chips or mulch, and have conical caps. |
| Comments |
This species is one of the most familiar of the Oregon coast. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
semilanceata page.
|
Scaly-Stalked Psilocybe
Psilocybe squamosa (Pers. ex Fr.) Orton
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Sticky, brownish cap with grayish- to purple-brown gills and densely
scaly stalk. |
| Cap |
1" - 3" (2.5-7.5 cm) wide; conical, expanding to broadly knobbed;
sticky, with evanescent marginal scales, becoming smooth; brown to
tawny or olive-brown with age. |
| Gills |
attached, close to almost distant, broad; whitish to gray or
purple-brown. |
| Stalk |
2 3/8" - 4 3/4" (6-12 cm) high, 1/8" - 3/8" (0.3-1 cm) thick;
brownish, densely scaly below ring (scales and ring readily lost on
handling or weathering). |
| Veil |
partial veil leaving evanescent ring on stalk. |
| Spores |
12-14 X 6-7.5 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore
print purple-brown. |
| Season |
Late August-October. |
| Habitat |
Single to several, on decayed wood in mixed forests. |
| Range |
Widespread in N. United States. |
| Look-alikes |
P. thrausta has red cap. |
| Comments |
This species has also been placed in the genera
Stropharia and
Naematoloma because it shares characteristics of all 3 groups.
In fact, some specialists hold that these genera should be
combined. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
squamosa page.
|
| editor's note |
A quick check on the species in these other genera shows them to be
either deadly or an excellent edible, but none show notes as to them
being hallucinogenic. However, some in these other genera have no
mention of edibility or toxicity. So much is still unknown. Just in
case you were wondering -- as I was. Note too that there is no mention
to this Psilocybe's edibility, toxicity, or hallucinogenic qualities
if any. |
Stuntz's Blue Legs
Psilocybe stuntzii Guzman and Ott
Strophariaceae, Agaricales
| Description |
Sticky, brownish cap with brownish gills and brownish, ringed stalk;
bruising blue. |
| Cap |
5/8" - 1 5/8" (1.5-4 cm) wide; conical, expanding to broadly convex
with central knob, or nearly flat; becoming somewhat wavy and
uplifted; sticky to moist, smooth; dark to yellow-brown, often
green-tinged on margin. |
| Gills |
attached, close to almost distant, broad; off-white, becoming
brownish. |
| Stalk |
1 1/4" - 2 3/8" (3-6 cm) long, 1/8" (3 mm) thick, sometimes enlarged
at base; yellowish, smooth to fibrous. |
| Veil |
partial veil leaves fragile ring that becomes bluish zone on upper
stalk. |
| Spores |
8-12.5 X 6-8 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore
print purple-brown. |
| Edibility |
Hallucinogenic. |
| Season |
September-December |
| Habitat |
Several to clustered, in coniferous wood-chip mulch; reported on
lawns. |
| Range |
Pacific NW. |
| Look-alikes |
The deadly Galerina autumnalis has tawny cap fading to yellow,
brown gills, and rust-brown spore print.
Stropharia species do
not bruise blue. |
| Comments |
Also known as the "Washington Blue Veil". Like some other blue legs,
this does not blue conspicuously. To avoid confusing it with the
Deadly Galerina (Galerina autumnalis), be sure to take a spore
print. |
| Images |
See: the Sputnik Psilocybe
stuntzii page.
|
| editor's note |
The spores for the Deadly Galerina are 8.5-10.5 X 5-6.5 microns;
elliptical, roughened, with smooth depression. |
If you die from eating a mushroom of questionable qualities, all I can say
is, "Thanks for providing us with the new information!" The data from your
autopsy will save the rest of us from making the same mistake. Harsh but
true. In other words (again) -- be careful! Nobody will assume any
responsibility for your death or illness if you make a mistake with
'shrooms. Not even if you are only gathering 'shrooms for dinner, let
alone 'shrooms for a "trip." You are on your own on this one.
All that aside -- I wish the best for you in your adventures in
'shrooming. I hope this collective of words and pics will open up a new
"Virtual Reality" for you -- commonly known as the "Real Reality". Maybe
this will get some of you away from your monitors and out into the woods
and fields on occasion. There's lots of "stuff" out there! (And most of it
isn't delivered to you in data-packets and doesn't even need batteries or
an A.C. outlet, nor a credit card number. Yep, believe it or not -- it's
true, honest!)
