Talk:Psilocybe cyanescens

Some anon claimed that this article contained erroneous information, but didn't specify what was wrong and just replaced the text with a copyvio. I've reverted back to the original, pre-copyvio version. Mkweise, could you please double-check the info here? Thank you. Lupo 10:33, 10 Aug 2004 (UTC)

I've added the "disputed" tag to this article until we can resolve this question. The current text disagrees with [1], from which the violating text was copied (and which I'm more inclined to believe), on the following subjects:

• Color of bruising
• In what environment the mushroom grows
• Whether or not it grows in the US Northeast

Also note that the article in its current form contradicts itself about whether the mushroom belongs to the Agaricaceae (body) or Strophariaceae (sidebar) family. —Triskaideka 14:24, 14 Aug 2004 (UTC)

This info is accurate to the best of my knowledge. It is not known to grow in the Northeast rather it is commonly found in the northwest. - Saprophyte

I removed the following statement based on it being extremely inaccurate:

Psilocybe cyanescens indoor cultivation is familiar to North American tribes, especially for religious ceremonies.

1) Pre-modern cultures did not cultivate mushrooms indoors - indoor mushroom cultivation was not developed until the 17th century. 2) Psilocybe cyanescens is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. No North American Indian groups living north of Mexico were known to have used any species of Psilocybe. - Peter G Werner, May 23, 2005

Move

Moved article from "Wavy Cap" back to here - all other Psilocybe species are listed under their scientific names, so this should be too for sake of consistency.

Effects

Shouldn't there be a section on the effects of eating this mushroom, or drinking a tea made from it? Not a how too manual of course. I have a bit of knowledge of this, but it is original research so I can't really use it here, hehe. HighInBC 18:30, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Discussion of the effects is given in the article on psilocybin. There's no need to repeat this information in each and every article about a psilocybin-containing mushroom. Peter G Werner 05:29, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Good call HighInBC 05:34, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Incorrect genus?

Isn't the proper genus for these Panaeolus? Thatfunkymunki 04:12, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Not by a long shot - you're confusing Panaeolus cyanescens (aka Copelandia cyanescens) with Psilocybe cyanescens. Both are psilocybin mushrooms, but are completely different species in completely different genera. Panaeolus cyanescens is a subtropical species that grows on dung, while Psilocybe cyanescens is a temperate species that grows on woodchips. Hope this helps. Peter G Werner 06:23, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Potency

I remember from my younger days that the Cyanescens (the Queen) degrades very quickly after drying. I think I recall ingesting some dried specimens with little or no effect. Another aside, I found these in the darndest of places. In the landscaping of 2 different large insurance buildings, in the landscaping at an old age home, and even in the front yard of a rather large home in NE Portland. They will sometimes grow aside to the Psylocibe Baeocsytis. (correct spelling?)

They keep quite well if dried properly. Like all mushrooms, they must be dried until VERY brittle for long-term storage. If stored in a container with some dessicant, they can stay potent for several years. Ion G Nemes (talk) 04:40, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Reference cleanup

I added a tag because article needs inline citations for consistency... I'll do it if noone gets there first Sasata (talk) 08:35, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

Additional information

The user iownutopia made some major additions to this article. I ended up reverting most of them but there was a lot of good information that he added. Some of it belongs in the article but I am not sure how much of it comes from reliable sources. If P. cyanescens really does grow on the east coast then the reliable sources need to be made aware of this fact. The information is here:

Although not mentioned in the majority of literature regarding this species, Psilocybe cyanescens has also been observed to grow in the northeastern United States. It has been observed in Pennsylvania and in New York state. In these locations the preferred media that these mushrooms grow is in woodchips covered in coniferous and decomposed lignous (woody bark and decomposed but not whole rotting log) debris. Populations found in these locations have been shown to follow all macroscopic, microscopic and chemical profiles of this species. By anecdotal account from experienced mushroom hunters who have seen populations in other regions, these northeastern populations have shared the biological characteristics and potency of psychoactive effects with populations seen in other locales. The variant seen on the east coast is more often the less undulated variant that is mentioned in the following paragraphs. It more closely resembles the second example of P. cyanescens in the video documentary which is also referenced below. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LiQwpw36X4&feature=related) DNA evidence however is still lacking on the concrete identification of these populations. Hopefully there will be some qualified mycologists who may become mindful of this information and disseminate it and or provide their expert opinions.

This species can be identified by the following characteristics:

1. Autumn fruiting. This is true in all locations this species is found. Some accounts have stated that fruiting can begin as early as August. Generally speaking this species is seen from September when the weather has begun to cool considerably until the first hard frosts, which is often mid to late November, occasionally as late as December unless during a particularly mild winter. This is a species that grows in temperate regions and is associated with deciduous trees and locations that have freezing winter temperatures.

2. The species has a very recognizable wavy-margined cap, brown in coloration often with a central pallor (light area toward the center of the cap) with a more straw or buff coloration. There are natural variations with less prominent undulations, which more closely resemble P. stunzii morphologically. There are important differences between these species however. There is a prominent annulus present in P. Stunzii (a ring around the stem), and stunzii fruits in spring in many European locales and is seen in fall in Northwestern United States locales. Psilocybe stunzii is considered much less potent than P. cyanescens.

3. P. cyanescens, like almost every species of Psilocybe (and certainly all species that are used for entheogenic purposes), has a purple to dark purple brown (occasionally almost black) spore print. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT IDENTIFYING FEATURE! Do not ingest anything that does not exhibit this trait if intending to ingest a psychoactive mushroom, especially if the spore print is Orange! The reason for this will be mentioned in the following sections.

4. This species grows on woodchips or lignous debris (woody material, i.e. old bark or decaying wood that is well incorporated into leafy debris but generally NOT whole logs) and often covered with a light layer of leafy debris. Very often this species is associated with Rhododendrons, or Azaleas in public gardens. As stated earlier, this species is often seen on imported woodchips growing under conifer (pine) 'needles' in the northwestern part (as well as in at least two northeastern states) of the United States and in semi-shaded areas under deciduous trees which do not leave excessive quantities of leaves in Autumn. The developing mushrooms appear to require a certain amount of humidity, dappled light and air exchange. This is likely why this species is seen to grow well under plants like rhododendrons which tend to remain semievergreen and lose their leaves later into winter. This may also be why they are associated with conifers that have been planted in open beds with mulch. The pine needles tend to form an insulation and retain humidity for the developing mushrooms and allow enough light and warmth to facilitate fruiting without exposing the mushrooms to direct sunlight.

5. This species displays a very distinct and unmistakable bluing reaction. The reaction is so strong and so immediate that once observed for the first time is very hard to forget. Within seconds of contact this species turns blue or deep blue green where handled. The stem, because of its whiter color is often the most evident location to see a true blue color. (IF IT DOES NOT DISPLAY THIS IT IS NOT A CYANESCENS!) The color that the cap changes may be muddled due to its caramel coloration, so it may appear darker blue green or more blackish.

7. While not a scientific means of IDing any mushroom, P. cyanescens and many other Psilocybes have a particular scent that is reminiscent of Agaricus bisporus, a common commercial edible, but with a bitter and acrid quality that is memorable.

According to authorities such as Paul Stamets and another well respected mycologist who goes by the endeering title of "Mushroom John" this bluing reaction is likely due to the oxidation of psilocin. This species as well as azurescens, cubensis, and baeocystis are especially known to have this reaction. Interestingly species which have a more predominant ratio of psilocybin to psilocin tend to have weaker or less noticeable bluing reactions. Psilocybe semilanceata is an example of a relatively potent species by weight that displays little to no bluing reaction. There is still much debate as to whether the strength of the reaction indicates the potency of the mushroom and if excessive handling causes the mushroom to lose potency. What can be stated with certainty is that indole, a related compound with the same core structure of psilocybin, psilocin and other tryptamines, also reacts to oxidizing agents by displaying a bluing reaction.

Psilocybe cyanescens is considered a highly desirable species for wild collectors of Psilocybe because it tends to fruit in large populations and often quite reliably. It is also considered very potent and because it grows on wood chips, it is likely a more palatable species to wild collect than say, P. cubensis which grows directly on animal manure.

An established bed containing cyanescens is often seen to fruit in the same locations year after year provided that the collector takes some basic precautions.

Mushroom hunters very rarely reveal the locations they have made finds because often once the word is out, many other collectors seem to gravitate toward the site and often the location is quickly decimated.

Mushroom sites can also become damaged by over collecting. Collectors that want to keep a good location going for many years should ideally take sterile precautions when collecting from their site. Things means using a pair of scissors that has been sterilized with alcohol and thoroughly dried and clipping only mature specimens, leaving the mycelium undisturbed.Spraying the mushrooms with a mist of sterlized distilled water after clipping also helps them to thrive after being disturbed. These additional steps can make the difference between having a strong established patch year after year and having a patch that slowly diminishes each year until being gone. Additionally the location should be infused with new woodchip media that has been inoculated with mycelium each spring and given time to be exposed to the elements to create a bigger fall flush. In this way, using mycelium to create new patches and tending to them much in the way a person tends to a garden with regular watering, a person can successfully cultivate these muchrooms outdoors and maintain a continuous supply for as long as they'd like. Hypothetically a person could "plant" this species in any number of locations to naturally increase their distribution.

Of course, novices often rip the entire clump of mushrooms out of the ground, mycelium and all, much the way careless persons who wild collect peyote (Lophophora williamsii) rip the entire plant, root and all, do. This kills the mushrooms and will ruin a small patch within one or two seasons. In the case of peyote, this destroys a plant that is considered seriously endangered in its natural habitat. Given the extremely slow growing nature of Lophophora species, this is considered a travesty to many Native American tribes and is a sad reminder of the disrespect many people show to nature.

Also worthy of mention is the fact that Psilocybe cyanescens is by many authorities considered to be the second or possibly third most potent commonly available psilocybin\psilocin containing mushroom in the world just after Psilocybe azurescens. Psilocybe semilanceata is also considered to be quite potent by weight and chemical analysis suggests that they may be more potent especially if comparing the mushrooms when dried. Anecdotal accounts seem to suggest that cyanescens is probably one of the strongest of psychoactive mushrooms when consumed fresh and loses considerable potency due to storage and drying. These data point to the belief that psilocin is not very stable and rapidly oxidizes, so species high in psilocin such as cyanescens and relatively low in psilocybin will tend to lose potency when dried. Psilocybin is converted in the liver to psilocin shortly after ingestion, so species high is psilocybin will retain potency for quite a long time. This is why P. semilanceata can be dried for storage and retain a great deal of their potency. This also may be suggestive of why chemical analysis seems to show a high potency of this species compared to others, when anecdotal accounts of ingestion of the fresh mushrooms of P. semilanceata compared to others is less dramatic. Psilocybe cyanescens and azurescens are both species that can be considered exceedingly strong when eaten fresh and can lead to very dramatic changes in consciousness (hallucinogenic psychoactivity or a 'trip' colloquially). They are not species to be indulged in by users unexperienced with less potent and readily available species such a P. cubensis.

A "bad trip" is a psychedelic experience that is highly unpleasant and anxiety inducing. Often the hallucinatory actions of psychedelic drugs become nightmarish and frightening during these types of experiences. These are generally caused by poor planning, settings that are unfamiliar and thus frightening for the user, and situations outside of the user's control.

A "bad trip" is less likely with drugs like the Psilocybin alkaloids or with Mescaline because they act predominantly on serotonin receptors and have less activity on dopamine and epinephrine receptors which are known to be associated with anxiety. LSD activates a wide variety of receptors and subsets of receptors, including very strong actions at dopamine and epinephrine receptors, making LSD more likely to provoke anxiety reactions and bad trips.

That being said, wreckless experimentation with strong species like cyanescens and azurescens can and often does lead to these reactions. Unexperienced users and users that take the same quantity of these as they would a cubensis expecting the same result are especially vulnerable.

Natural variations in potency exist with these fungi. Some may be mild. Some may be extraordinarily strong.

Please know that with any drug, more can always be taken later after the initial effects have been established and the strength of the drug can be determined. Taking too much on the other hand is very hard to reverse. SSRIs like prozac (fluoxetine) during such an experience may help to lessen the effects of the experience by being antagonistic at 5HT2A receptors. [Hallucinogens are believed to act predominantly at 5HT2A receptors]. Antipsychotics like chlorpromazine may also aid in reversing the effects of hallucinogens although it is unlikely that a person will have access to these drugs without visiting an emergency room, an event likely to trigger more panic and anxiety. Generally the only antidote is to wait out the experience, which with a high dose can be many hours. Have either a completely sober and trusted friend or a very well experienced friend who takes the same dose. Don't trip alone if unexperienced.

If intending to experiment with these mushrooms, please give the experience a lot of respect and consider very carefully the set and settting of use. Pyschedelics are very thought provoking and mind expanding and can lead to profound self insights and life changing shifts in points of view. They lend themselves very well to spending time with close and trusted friends and loved ones in a home environment where the phone is unplugged and nothing is planned for the whole day except maybe some art projects or movies or games that are familiar and enjoyable to everyone. They lend themselves to spending time outdoors in a well secluded and beautiful location where there are limited chances for experiencing interaction with people who would not be privvy to such experimentation and where the chances for accidental self injury or embarrassment are minimal.

These are not the kind of drugs to use in a party setting with unfamiliar people in unknown locations or where the events are decided spontaneously. Psychedelics literally cause a person to lose their mind, often in a way that is controllable and positive to a great degree, but sexual arousal, innapropriately (or just exaggerated) trusting feelings, and feelings of spontanaeity and admissions of life events and expression of feelings and honesty are especially common. This is terrific amongst non judgmental friends. This is not very appropriate with complete strangers.

Other less available species such as bohemica and baeocystis are also quite potent on a chemical analysis basis. This is stated by Paul Stamets in his highly informative and well researched book, Psilocybin Mushrooms of The World. There is in fact a chart demonstrating the potencies of the species in comparison based on chemical analysis.

It is very important when collecting this species that there are DEADLY look-alikes! The most notable is Galerina autumnalis (now classified as Galerina marginata).

Galerina species tend to grow in similar locations to cyanescens populations and to a novice look somewhat similar.

Please consult the following page for images of Galerina: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/galerina_marginata.html

Images of P. cyanescens can be found here: http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Psilocybe_cyanescens.html

Galerina can be indentified by the following features:

1. The most important rule is that they have an orange to orange "rusty" brown spore print. The gills are also an obvious orange color very much unlike the dark purple black gill color of a Psilocybe. This is why the spore print is so important!

2. The cap tends to have a homogenous (pure and even) distribution of orange color. It is quite distinguishable from the brown cap of a P. cyanescens, which is brown and often has a tan or buff center.

3. The cap of a Galerina occassionally may have minor undulations, but these are very different from the often wildly eccentric wavy undulations of a cyanescens.

3a: It is important to note though that there are morphologic variations in all species of life, and there are varieties of cyanescens with less apparent undulation, and occasionally even with somewhat of a smooth cap. An illustration of this can be seen in the 4 installment of this excellent documentary series on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LiQwpw36X4&feature=related

6. GALERINAS DO NOT BRUISE BLUE. The bluing reaction is a very obvious quality of a cyanescens and is unmistakable. Unfortunately people new to mushroom collecting become overly excited when they find what they believe to be a Psilocybe and often throw caution to the wind and consume these mushrooms on the spot. Also what can happen is occasionally a person will find a population of true cyanescens that has some distribution of Galerina and will simply pick all of the mushrooms in the area without properly taking their time to compare specimens, do spore prints and compare with field guides. Even experienced collectors have been known to make mistakes when they become overzealous.

6a: Worthy of note is that all mushrooms if handled excessively are likelty to exhibit some type of darkening due to bruising and handling; often they will be a darker version of their color and will crumble. The bruising of a psilocybe however is unmistakable.

Please note however that there are unrelated species of mushrooms which are naturally blue or exhbit a bluing reaction such as some species of Boletus, which bear no resemblance to Psilocybes, and for the most part these other bluing species are nontoxic except for the potential to cause stomach ache or be generally unpalatable.

7. Galerinas will tend to grow more easily on whole rotting logs. They can also been seen on whoody debris like the Psilocybes, but generally P. cyanescens doesn't seem to prefer to fruit directly on whole logs, but rather on already dissintegrated woods.

Alan Rockefeller (Talk - contribs) 09:21, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for reverting that. Original research doesn't belong in Wikipedia, period. Its one of the fundamental rules for this encyclopedia, in fact. Mushroom Observer might be a passible source for adding stuff about distribution, especially pages that are listed as "reviewed", though it might not be considered a strong source for any information that's controversial or challenged. See WP:SOURCES for further information on this.

As for information about seasonality, such as specific months of fruiting, that really needs to be kept as general as possible or avoided entirely here. As anybody who's collected in more that one locality knows, mushroom fruiting seasons vary markedly from area to area. So, for example, if somebody were to post that P. cyanescens fruits from November through March, this would be a Bay Area-centric view of the fruiting season that would not hold true in the Pacific Northwest, western Europe, or other areas where this species occurs. Peter G Werner (talk) 20:44, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Psilocybe cyanofriscosa

It now has an official paper out on it. http://www.czechmycology.org/_cmo/CM64207.pdf

The name was changed to Psilocybe allenii. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.177.221.168 (talk) 12:54, 9 December 2012 (UTC)

Safety: These Mushrooms Can Cause Temporary but Very Real Paralysis

I don't know if it's worth working into the article, but there are many many reports of these species mushrooms causing paralysis, especially in high doses (in excess of 4g dried). If you search the name of this species of mushrooms and "paralysis" you will find all sorts of reports that this species of "magic mushrooms" can cause a temporary paralysis which can be very dangerous and sign of possible toxicity in adults. A couple other "wood loving" magic mushroom species are said to cause similar effects. 131.191.57.0 (talk) 01:31, 29 December 2013 (UTC)

Widely scattered clinical reportage attests to an entire suite of CNS complications that can occur and have, by psilocybin mushrooms - a toxidrome, as technically cited. Symptoms as medically reported include BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO - paralysis. Another oft-cited manifestation is seizures, epileptic-like convulsion. The facts in evidence about this haven't been comprehensively adduced nor is there any movement toward such study AFAIK, despite the fact that - on rare occasion, in connection with this toxidrome - fatalities have occurred.

       Insofar as evidence is case by case by case at this point, no comprehensive approach to a general systematic understanding about this has yet been taken.  A gap in research exists, a vacuum as it were - of type nature famously 'abhors.' Something less credible, without systematic method or evidence - rushes in to fill the blank, taking opportunity as afforded, to - play expert - in order to downplay more informed perspective - even suppress info unsuitable for the popular context of 'talking up' magic mushrooms - as 'inconvenient truth' about this.  
        Psychedelics figure in culture patterning, as well known in ethnography.  In the modern milieu as it has emerged historically - staging the 'remarkable safety' of magic mushrooms, scripting the wonderful 'absence of adverse reactions' - represent 'high' priority for the 'movement.'  As per current PR operations, misleading 'FYIs' come out the kamp loudspeaker 24/7 - e.g. this year, last May that 'MAGIC MUSHROOMS ARE SAFEST DRUG KNOWN' (anyone else hear that fluff piece too - or am I the only one?)/
        Apropos of this Psilocybe CNS toxidrome, the past decade or so has spawned the advent of - damage control rhetoric, of theatrical 'teachings' -  downplaying risks, minimizing the full range of symptoms (as if it's "just paralysis") - as if determined to 'contain' any damage to the 'glowing reputation' of mushrooms that - as posed for public 'benefit' - so safe, that no other drug known to medical science - is safer.  As a matter of established, clinically reported fact this CNS toxidrome is - highly problematic from 'proper-ganda' pov i.e. the Big Public Magic Mushroom Promo Push.  
        That such adverse effects 'manifest' only by species that grow on wood chips (not others - the implicit Green Light OK for them, no cause for concern there) - and likewise, that it's merely a matter of paralysis, not convulsion too (etc) - the 'Wood Lovers Paralysis' meme, and its attendant claims - is fairly new kid on the block in rhetoric of the psychedelic movement.  Many involved in helping fabricate this 'informed perspective' - a 'limited hangout' (in vocab of our technical intelligence communities) i.e. damage control by admitting to some 'bad news'(a public performance, acting as if frank conscientious candor) - are anonymous, unidentifiable parties - no names or faces, no discernible credentials - yet enacting credibility, tacitly demanding - credulity. 
        For example, fresh of the vine this month, from that renowned leading 'household name' Staff Scientist - https://psilocybintechnology.com/wood-lover-paralysis-unsolved-mystery/ (you can't make this shit up).  
     Hope you don't mind, 131.191.57.0 - I couldn't resist quoting you from this WP talk page - here, where no less distinguished an authority than - Staff Scientist - showed up to spam-promote his 'expert research' to help feather this meme's nest. Staff Scientist's "contribution to our understanding" - matches a general style of anonymously contrived rhetoric impersonating informed perspective. The connecting thread that runs thru deeply is - purpose (motive) - to feather the nest of the agenda, help 'mainstream' the 'underground - carry water for the 'community' with its determined oppositional defiance of 'inconvenient truth' - whole truth, and nothing but - about this problematic CNS toxidrome that - reflects as you note rightly, far and wide - in prattle forums that now abound on internet by about and for - mushroom tripping.
      < (CAPS added to emphasize key terms): 'If you search the name of THIS SPECIES and "paralysis" you will find all sorts of reports that THIS SPECIES of "magic mushrooms" can cause a temporary paralysis - which can be very dangerous and sign of possible toxicity in adults. A couple other "wood loving" magic mushroom species are SAID TO cause similar effects. 131.191.57.0 (talk) 01:31, 29 December 2013 (UTC)' Besides the rigorously uncritical standard, 'rumor (not evidence)' - gamely trying to capture the subject - I tested 131.191.57.0's googling 'methodology,' but I violated his "cyanescens" rule.  I googled 'paralysis' with that one, and also - for comparison - a Non Wood Lover Species well known as a dung dweller - infamous for having inflicted paralysis and/or numbness, convulsion and seizure, aphasia and other symptoms of this toxidrome.  Hey, he tossed down his method gauntlet all I did was - pick it up.  Results:

      paralysis cubensis - About 32,900 results (0.77 seconds) 

      paralysis cyanescens - About 7,280 results (0.54 seconds) 

Anyone can email me about this - I've made my hotmail userid, my posting name, to enable that. Alas for these forums, for the prospects of any interest in 'the truth' about this subject, a dire one as I discover. > https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/24715758/fpart/2/vc/1#24715758 Akersbp (talk) 09:34, 9 November 2017 (UTC)