Mushrooms

Identifying And Picking Magic Mushrooms

Magic Mushroom Field Guide 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.

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.

This page is an attempt at listing some of the species in the Psilocybe genus. Other types of mushrooms may produce psychoactive effects, but hallucinogenic members of the Psilocybe genus are considered true magic mushrooms. Most Psilocybe mushrooms are considered to be LBM's (little brown mushrooms), and to the beginner there are thousands of look-alikes.

The 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 mushroom 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, the procedure is explained here. Disregard the sterility parts, you are not going to use the spore print to generate more mushrooms, it is just going to be for visual identification.

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 information is not meant to be a total reference in the identification of these 'shrooms. This compilation of scanned photos and text is a small percentage of those found in the book Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World.

If you are serious about mushroom hunting, get the book and be sure you are able to identify deadly look alike mushrooms that are commonly confused with magic mushrooms.

Who knows, I may have made a typing mistake here, I'd hate to think someone died because I accidentally 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. Since 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. Someone with photo in hand might think that is all he/she needs to identify a 'shroom and have a "trip". Please be responsible with this packet of information.

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.

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Botanical Name: Psilocybe baeocystis
Common Name: Potent Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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 North West (USA).
Look-alikes	Psilocybe strictipes has long, brittle, straight stalk. The hallucinogenic Psilocybe 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	1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

Botanical Name: Psilocybe caerulipes
Common Name: Blue Foot Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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, this hallucinogenic species turns blue on handling, usually after several minutes.
Images	1

Botanical Name: Psilocybe coprophila
Common Name: Dung-Loving Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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	Partial veil evanescent (when present).
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	Psilocybe 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	1 , 2 , 3
editor's note	Some of the look-alike species are edible, others are poisonous. One species in the Panaeolus genus, (the Girdled Panaeolus, botanical name Panaeolus subbalteatus), is mentioned as also being hallucinogenic and common enough to be considered a weed. No photo or description of Panaeolus subbalteatus is included here.

Botanical Name: Psilocybe cubensis
Common Name: Common Large Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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 (USA).
Comments	This is an abundant member of the Gulf Coast pastureland flora.
Images	1 , 2 , 3
editor's note	Psilocybe cubensis is the most commonly cultivated species of magic mushroom. If you have ever grown magic mushrooms, there is a good chance they were Psilocybe cubensis.

Botanical Name: Psilocybe cyanescens
Common Name: Bluing Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

Description	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 Psilocybe baeocystis and Psilocybe strictipes lack wavy margin.
Comments	When ingested in large quantity, this can be strongly hallucinogenic.
Images	1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8

Botanical Name: Psilocybe montana
Common Name: Mountain Moss Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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	West 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	1
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. I included this one to show you that we don't know everything about all mushrooms and should always be cautious.

Botanical Name: Psilocybe pelliculosa
Common Name: Conifer Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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 North California.
Look-alikes	The hallucinogenic Psilocybe semilanceata found in manured grass, has smooth stalk. Psilocybe silvatica has smaller spores.
Comments	This species, often confused with the Liberty Cap (Psilocybe semilanceata), lacks its narrowly conical cap and is only weakly hallucinogenic.
Images	1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6

Botanical Name: Psilocybe semilanceata
Common Name: Liberty Cap
Family: Strophariaceae

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 (USA), also reported in Quebec (Canada).
Look-alikes	The hallucinogenic Psilocybe pelliculosa and Psilocybe silvatica grow in wood chips or mulch, and have conical caps.
Comments	This species is one of the most familiar on the Oregon coast.
Images	1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

Botanical Name: Psilocybe squamosa
Common Name: Scaly-Stalked Psilocybe
Family: Strophariaceae

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 the northern United States.
Look-alikes	Psilocybe thrausta has a 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	1
editor's note	The edibility, toxicity, or hallucinogenic qualities of Psilocybe squamosa are unknown.

Botanical Name: Psilocybe stuntzii
Common Name: Stuntz's Blue Legs
Family: Strophariaceae

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 North West (USA).
Look-alikes	The deadly Galerina autumnalis has a 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 types of blue legs, Psilocybe stuntzii does not blue conspicuously. To avoid confusing it with the Deadly Galerina (Galerina autumnalis), be sure to take a spore print.
Images	1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6
editor's note	The spores for the Deadly Galerina are 8.5-10.5 X 5-6.5 microns; elliptical, roughened, with smooth depression.

Mushroom Death

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 "reality" for you.

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Books

Magic Mushrooms

A very good introduction to the subject, it would be of most value to someone with an interest in magic mushrooms but who knows nothing about them. About 120 pages with black and white illustrations. Easy to understand and informative, it will only take a day or two for most readers to finish.

Includes information about history, growing, chemistry, dosage and other aspects of magic mushrooms. Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe baeocystis, Psilocybe stuntzii, Panaeolus subbalteatus, and Amanita muscaria are described.

Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook:
Easy Indoor and Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation

If you have never grown and find it hard to follow online guides or if you have tried to grow magic mushrooms and had problems, this is the book to look at. Compared to previous mushroom growing books, this is a fairly easy to understand, accurate, illustrated guide to growing mushrooms that contain high concentrations of psilocybin (the primary chemical that produces intoxication when a person takes most types of magic mushrooms).

This book was written for the first timer but and also has information that intermediate and advanced growers might benefit from. Primarily about growing indoors, there is a chapter about growing outdoors. About 200 pages with black and white images that illustrate the text being discussed. Includes 32 page section of color photos. If this book and info you find online don't help, mushroom cultivation might not be for you.

Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook

Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World:
An Identification Guide

An identification guide exclusively devoted to the world's psilocybin containing mushrooms (the ones that produce a high). Not just a field guide, it contains an exploration of their long standing use by ancients and their continued significant to modern-day culture. Over 200 pages.

A complete guide: history, descriptions, experiences and all relative information that you need. This is the book to get if you plan on going mushroom hunting. Detailed descriptions and color photos of over 100 species of psilocybin mushrooms are provided. A must for anyone wanting to identify magic mushrooms and deadly look alikes.

Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World

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