Psilocybe cubensis
| Psilocybe cubensis | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | P. cubensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Psilocybe cubensis | |
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| Approximate Range of Psilocybe cubensis | |
Psilocybe cubensis | |
|---|---|
 | Gills on hymenium |
 | Cap is convex or flat |
 | Hymenium is adnate or adnexed |
 | Stipe has a ring |
 | Spore print is purple |
 | Ecology is saprotrophic |
 | Edibility is psychoactive |
Psilocybe cubensis is a potent species of psychedelic mushroom whose principal active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin. Commonly called boomers, golden tops, cubes or gold caps, it belongs to the Strophariaceae family of fungi and was previously known as Stropharia cubensis. It is largely known for being among the easiest psilocybin mushroom species to grow and cultivate illicitly, and by the people of the psychedelic drug culture to appear in cow faeces in the Summer months of November, December and January, along the Queensland and upper New South Wales eastern borders.[citation needed]
Taxonomy and naming
The species was first described in 1906 as Stropharia cubensis by Franklin Sumner Earle in Cuba.[1] In 1907 it was identified as Naematoloma caerulescens in Tonkin by Narcisse Théophile Patouillard,[2] while in 1941 it was called Stropharia cyanescens by William Alphonso Murrill in Florida.[3] These synonyms were later assigned to the species Psilocybe cubensis.[4][5]
The name Psilocybe is derived from the Greek roots psilos (ψιλος) and kubê (κυβη),[6] and translates as "bald head". Cubensis means "coming from Cuba", and refers to the type locality published by Earle.
Description
- Pileus: 2–8 cm, Conic to convex, becoming broadly convex to plane in age, may retain a slight umbo, margin even, reddish-cinnamon brown when young becoming golden brown in age, viscid when moist, hygrophanous, glabrous, sometimes with white universal veil remnants decorating the cap, more or less smooth. Flesh whitish, bruising blue in age or where injured.
- Gills: Adnate to adnexed to sometimes seceding attachment, close, narrow to slightly wider towards the center, at first pallid to gray, becoming dark purplish to blackish in age, somewhat mottled, edges remaining whitish.
- Spore Print: Blackish violet.
- Stipe: 4–15 cm long, .5–1.5 cm thick, white to yellowish in age, hollow or somewhat stuffed, the well developed veil leaves a persistent white membranous annulus whose surface usually becomes concolorous with the gills because of falling spores, bruising blue or bluish-green when injured.
- Taste: Farinaceous
- Odor: Farinaceous
- Microscopic features: Spores 11.5–17 x 8–11 µm, subellipsoid, basidia 4-spored but sometimes 2- or 3-, pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia present.[7]
It is in the section Cubensae, other mushrooms of this section include Psilocybe subcubensis.
Entheogenic use
Psilocybe cubensis is probably the most widely known of the psilocybin containing mushrooms used. Its major psychoactive compounds are:
- Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine)
- Psilocin (4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine)
- Baeocystin (4-phosphoryloxy-N-methyltryptamine)
- Norbaeocystin (4-phosphoryloxytryptamine)
The concentrations of psilocin and psilocybin, determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, were determined to be in the range of 0.14–0.42%/0.37–1.30% (dry weight) in the whole mushroom, 0.17–0.78%/0.44–1.35% in the cap and 0.09–0.30%/0.05–1.27% in the stem.[8]
Individual brain chemistry and psychological predisposition play a significant role in determining appropriate doses. For a modest psychedelic effect, a minimum of one gram of dried Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms is ingested orally. 0.25–1 gram is usually sufficient to produce a mild effect, 1–2.5 grams usually provides a moderate effect. 2.5 grams and higher usually produces strong effects.[9] For most people, 3.5 dried grams (1/8 oz) would be considered a high dose and may produce an intense experience; typically, this is considered a standard dose, however. For many individuals doses above 3 grams may be overwhelming. For a few rare people, doses as small as 0.25 grams can produce full-blown effects normally associated with very high doses. For most people, however, that dose level would result in virtually no effects. Due to factors such as age and storage method, the psilocybin content of a given sample of mushrooms will vary. Effects usually start after approximately 20–60 minutes (depending on method of ingestion and stomach contents) and may last from four to ten hours, depending on dosage. Visual distortions often occur, including walls that seem to breathe, a vivid enhancement of colors and the animation of organic shapes. At higher doses, experiences tend to be less social and more entheogenic, often intense and spiritual in nature.[citation needed]
The effects of very high doses can be overwhelming depending on the particular strain, growth method, and the individual. Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms can come in rather different sizes. It is recommended that one weigh the actual mushrooms, as opposed to simply counting them. People taking MAOIs need to be careful, as psilocybin and psilocin are metabolized by the enzyme monoamine oxidase. A monoamine oxidase inhibitor reduces the body's ability to metabolize psilocin and psilocybin, greatly increasing the intensity of the experience. This can sometimes produce uncomfortable or undesirably intense experiences.[citation needed]
Legality
It is illegal to be in possession of fresh or dried Psylocibe cubensis, as they are placed in the Schedule 9 (Prohibited Substance) and are also Schedule 1 of the Convention of Psychotropic Substances act.[citation needed] However, it is not illegal to be caught with cow-dung which is known to spawn P. cubensis mushrooms, and it is legal to be in possession of cow-dung in the premises of an owner, while the P. Cubensis's are fruiting.[citation needed]
Cultivation
Personal-scale cultivation of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms ranges from the relatively simple and small-scale PF Tek and other "cake" methods, that produce a limited amount of mushrooms, to advanced techniques utilizing methods of professional mushroom cultivators. These advanced methods require a greater investment of time, money, and knowledge, but reward the diligent cultivator with far larger and much more consistent harvests. Made famous by Terrence McKenna and his brother Dennis, who were the pioneers of cubensis growing operations during the 1970's.[citation needed]
See also
Notes
- ^ Earle FS. "Algunos hongos cubanos". Información Anual Estación Central Agronomica Cuba (in Spanish). 1: 225–42.
- ^ Patouillard NT (1907). "Champignons nouveaux du Tonkin". Bulletin de la Société Mycologique de France (in French). 23 (1).
- ^ Murrill WA (1941). "Some Florida Novelties". Mycologia. 33 (3). JSTOR 3754763.
- ^ "Naematoloma caerulescens Pat. 1907". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
- ^ "Stropharia cyanescens Murrill 1941". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
- ^ Cornelis, Schrevel (1826). Schrevelius' Greek lexicon, tr. into Engl. with numerous corrections. p. 358. Retrieved 2011/10/04.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|isbn2=(help); More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help) - ^ Stamets, Paul (1996). Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World. Ten Speed Press. pp. g. 108. ISBN 0-89815-839-7.
- ^ Tsujikawa K, Kanamori T, Iwata Y, Ohmae Y, Sugita R, Inoue H, Kishi T. (2003). Morphological and chemical analysis of magic mushrooms in Japan. Forensic Science International 138(1-3): 85-90.
- ^ Erowid (2006). "Erowid Psilocybin Mushroom Vault: Dosage" (shtml). Erowid. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
Further reading
- Guzman, G. The Genus Psilocybe: A Systematic Revision of the Known Species Including the History, Distribution and Chemistry of the Hallucinogenic Species. Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia Heft 74. J. Cramer, Vaduz, Germany (1983) [now out of print].
- Guzman, G. "Supplement to the genus Psilocybe." Bibliotheca Mycologica 159: 91-141 (1995).
- Nicholas, L.G. (2006). Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook: Easy Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation. Quick American Archives. ISBN 0-932551-71-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Oss, O.T. (1976). Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide. Quick American Publishing Company. ISBN 0-932551-06-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Stamets, Paul (1983). Mushroom Cultivator, The. Olympia: Agarikon Press. ISBN 0-9610798-0-0.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Stamets, Paul (1996). Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 0-9610798-0-0.
External links
- Psilocybe cubensis in Index Fungorum
- The Shroomery Detailed information about Psilocybe mushrooms including identification, cultivation and spores, psychedelic images, trip reports, a dosage calculator and an active community.
- Mycotopia Web forums dedicated to information/cultivation of Psilocybe cubensis Mushrooms.
- The Ones That Stain Blue Studies in ethnomycology including the contributions of Maria Sabina, Dr. Albert Hofmann and Dr. Gaston Guzman.
- Erowid Psilocybin Mushroom Vault
- PF TEK Psilocybe cubensis growing techniques.
- Timelapse film of Psilocybe Cubensis growing
- Shroomology Web Forums Contains information about Psilocybe cubensis, including cultivation, experiences, and photographs.