Psilocybe subaeruginosa

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Psilocybe subaeruginosa
Psilocybe.subaeruginosa.8.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Hymenogastraceae
Genus: Psilocybe
Species:
P. subaeruginosa
Binomial name
Psilocybe subaeruginosa
Cleland (1927)
Synonyms [1]

[2]

  • Psilocybe australiana Guzmán & Watling (1978)
  • Psilocybe cyanescenssensu Segedin, Beevera, P.R. Johnst. & P.K. Buchanan (1991)
  • Psilocybe eucalypta Guzmán & Watling (1978)
Psilocybe subaeruginosa
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Conical cap icon.svgUmbonate cap icon.svg Cap is conical or umbonate
Adnate gills icon2.svgAdnexed gills icon2.svg Hymenium is adnate or adnexed
Bare stipe icon.svg Stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
 Spore print is purple-brown
Saprotrophic fungus.svgEcology is saprotrophic
Mycomorphbox Psychoactive.pngEdibility is psychoactive

Psilocybe subaeruginosa is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae [3] described in 1927 and known from Australia [4] and New Zealand. [5] [6] [7] [3] As a blueing member of the genus Psilocybe it contains the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin.

Contents

Taxonomy

Psilocybe subaeruginosa was first described in 1927 by Australian mycologist John Burton Cleland. [4] The species name refers to the colour of the blueing reaction when the fruitbodies are damaged or handled - the feminine Latin adjective aeruginosa describes copper rust, which is verdigris or blue-green.

A type collection was not formally designated by Cleland, and the collection examined later by Guzman and Watling and called the type, with distinctive brown cystidia, [8] is missing from Cleland's collections in Adelaide. A formal lectotype from Belair National Park Australia has since been designated [1] (AD 5603/Cleland 13256) but without details of habitat and substrate, making an authentic concept of the species difficult to verify.

A 1992 study comparing the morphology and mating compatibility of P. australiana, P. eucalypta, P. subaeruginosa and P. tasmaniana suggested the four were synonymous and proposed combining them as P. subaeruginosa. [1] The idea was rejected by the authors of the later species, Gastón Guzmán calling the comparisons "confused" and reprinting descriptions the same year. [9] Despite this objection the proposal was accepted in 1995, with the exception of P. tasmaniana, which was excluded for having characteristics that did not suit the synonymy, and the specimen examined as P. tasmaniana being misidentified. [5]

Description

The cap averages 12–50 mm in diameter. It is conical to conic-convex with slightly inrolled edges when young, and becomes convex, often slightly upturned, sub-gibbous, or sometimes with a small acute umbo. It is slightly tacky. There may be veil remnants at the margin when young. Coloured yellow-brown to orange-brown, paler towards the margin, which is a little striate, hygrophanous, fading in drying to pallid biscuit brown or pale orange-yellow. The cap stains greenish blue with age or handling and the flesh inside is whitish. The gills are moderately close, pale smoky brown when young, violet-brown or brownish fuscous in age, with narrow pale edges, slightly ventricose, in three series, the middle reaching half way to the stipe, with an adnate or broadly adnexed attachment and lines sometimes running down the stipe. The stipe is 25-70x2-3.5(-5) mm, tall and slender, equal or slightly wider towards the cap, finely vertically lined, mealy at the top with fine fibrils below, the base somewhat swollen or becoming a mass of mycelium, hollow inside, cartilaginous, pale whitish streaked with dark greyish brown, staining greenish blue, flesh brownish. A white cortinate partial veil soon disappears, leaving traces as a raised area around the upper stipe. [5] [4]

Taste and odour are farinaceous and the spore print is purple brown. [4] [5]

The cheilocystidia are 17–29 x 5.5–11, hyaline, fusoid-ventricose, subpyriform or mucronate, often with an elongated neck at the apex which is 2–4.5 µm. The pleurocystidia measure 22–47 x 6–16 µm and is shaped like the cheilocystidia and also hyaline. The spores are smooth, subellipsoid, with an apical germ pore, measuring (10) 13.2–14.3 (15.4) x 6.6–7.7 x 6–7.5 µm. [8]

Distribution and habitat

Psilocybe subaeruginosa grows solitary to gregarious from grassy fields, and is occasionally seen on dung. [10] It is common in southern parts of Australia [1] from April to August. [11] The species is also known from Australian native and Eucalyptus forests, and famously in New Zealand on wood chip. It is recorded as present in New Zealand, but DNA sequencing of collections so far indicates P. allenii and P. cyanescens there [12] as well as P. subaeruginosa.[ citation needed ]

Psilocybe subaeruginosa in the Adelaide hills, Australia. Subs 30 05 20.jpg
Psilocybe subaeruginosa in the Adelaide hills, Australia.

Alkaloid content

Psilocybin has been isolated from this species in 0.45% yield. [13] In the same study, psilocin was not detectable with the analytical methods used (chromatographic separation and UV spectroscopy), and was estimated to be present at less than 1% of the psilocybin content.

In an unpublished report, psilocybin was isolated from this species at between 0.06% to 1.93%, with psilocin being between 0.0% to 0.17%. [14]

Similar species

Psilocybe subaeruginosa is enthusiastically hunted and bears similarity to a number of other common, sometimes toxic mushrooms that are often mistaken for or hoped to be our species. These are not limited to blue, green and brightly coloured, or brown Cortinarius , the deadly Galerina marginata and other Galerina species, Hypholoma , Inocybe , Leratiomyces ceres on wood chip, Coprinellus sect. Micacei and Pholiotacommunis .

Genetically similar members of the genus Psilocybe include the Northern Hemisphere agarics P. allenii, P. azuresecens, and P. cyanescens, and from New Zealand P. makarorae, the undescribed partially secotioid wood chip species 'Psilocybe subsecotioides', and the secotioid or pouch-like P. weraroa .

Related Research Articles

<i>Psilocybe</i> Genus of fungi

Psilocybe is a genus of gilled mushrooms, growing worldwide, in the family Hymenogastraceae. Most or nearly all species contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.

<i>Psilocybe semilanceata</i> Species of fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae, native to Europe

Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly known as the liberty cap, is a species of fungus which produces the psychoactive compounds psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. It is both one of the most widely distributed psilocybin mushrooms in nature, and one of the most potent. The mushrooms have a distinctive conical to bell-shaped cap, up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with a small nipple-like protrusion on the top. They are yellow to brown, covered with radial grooves when moist, and fade to a lighter color as they mature. Their stipes tend to be slender and long, and the same color or slightly lighter than the cap. The gill attachment to the stipe is adnexed, and they are initially cream-colored before tinting purple to black as the spores mature. The spores are dark purplish-brown in mass, ellipsoid in shape, and measure 10.5–15 by 6.5–8.5 micrometres.

<i>Psilocybe cyanescens</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe cyanescens, commonly known as the wavy cap or potent psilocybe, is a species of potent psychedelic mushroom. The main compounds responsible for its psychedelic effects are psilocybin and psilocin. It belongs to the family Hymenogastraceae. A formal description of the species was published by Elsie Wakefield in 1946 in the Transactions of the British Mycological Society, based on a specimen she had recently collected at Kew Gardens. She had begun collecting the species as early as 1910. The mushroom is not generally regarded as being physically dangerous to adults. Since all the psychoactive compounds in P. cyanescens are water-soluble, the fruiting bodies can be rendered non-psychoactive through parboiling, allowing their culinary use. However, since most people find them overly bitter and they are too small to have great nutritive value, this is not frequently done.

<i>Galerina</i> Genus of saprobic fungi

Galerina is a genus of small brown-spore saprobic fungi, with over 300 species found throughout the world from the far north to remote Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean. The genus is most noted for some extremely poisonous species which are occasionally confused with hallucinogenic species of Psilocybe. Species are typically small and hygrophanous, with a slender and brittle stem. They are often found growing on wood, and when on the ground have a preference for mossy habitats.

<i>Psilocybe baeocystis</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe baeocystis is a psilocybin mushroom of the family Hymenogastraceae. It contains the hallucinogenic compounds psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. The species is commonly known by various names such as bottle caps, knobby tops, blue bells, olive caps.

<i>Panaeolus cyanescens</i> Species of fungus

Panaeolus cyanescens is a mushroom in the Bolbitiaceae family. Panaeolus cyanescens is a common psychoactive mushroom and is similar to Panaeolus tropicalis.

<i>Psilocybe aucklandiae</i> Species of fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae

Psilocybe aucklandiae is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. The species is known from the Auckland Region of New Zealand, where it grows from clay soils in exotic pine plantations and native forests. It is phylogenetically similar to or almost the same as Psilocybe zapotecorum from Mexico and South America. As a blueing member of the genus Psilocybe it contains the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin.

Psilocybe graveolens is an extremely rare psilocybin mushroom which has psilocybin and psilocin as main active compounds, discovered in the salt marshes or "meadows" of Hackensack, New Jersey. This mushroom is known for its strong and persistent odor.

<i>Psilocybe mescaleroensis</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe mescaleroensis is a psychedelic mushroom which has psilocybin and psilocin as main active compounds. This mushroom is closely related to Psilocybe hopii and Psilocybe cyanescens. It was brought to scientific attention by Lee Walstad.

<i>Psilocybe stuntzii</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe stuntzii, also known as Stuntz's blue legs and blue ringers it is a psilocybin mushroom of the family Hymenogastraceae, having psilocybin and psilocin as main active compounds.

Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa, also known as rhododendron psilocybe and blue-haired psilocybe, is a psilocybin mushroom of the family Hymenogastraceae having psilocybin and psilocin as main active compounds. First documented in 1980 in the Pacific Northwest, it is relatively uncommon and can be distinguished from other closely related species by its smaller spores and forking cheilocystidia. Psilocybe cyanescens also has forking cheilocystidia, but less often than Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa. Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa is also distinguished from Psilocybe cyanescens by an absence of pleurocystidia. The name of this species refers to the fibrils on the Stipe (mycology) that turn bluish in age, or when handled.

<i>Psilocybe weraroa</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe weraroa, formerly Weraroa novae-zelandiae, is a secotioid fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it grows in native forests from rotting wood and woody debris. Despite its pouch-like form this species is closely related to Psilocybe cyanescens and Psilocybe subaeruginosa. As a bluing member of the genus Psilocybe it contains the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin.

Psilocybe plutonia is a small psilocybin mushroom of the family Hymenogastraceae, believed to contain psilocybin and psilocin. It was first documented from Cuba. An older synonym is Agaricus plutonia.

Psilocybe naematoliformis, is a species of fungus in the mushroom family Hymenogastraceae. It is a psilocybin mushroom, having psilocybin and psilocin as the main active hallucinogenic compounds.

<i>Psilocybe aztecorum</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe aztecorum is a species of psilocybin mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae. Known from Arizona, Colorado, central Mexico, India and Costa Rica, the fungus grows on decomposing woody debris and is found in mountainous areas at elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 m, typically in meadows or open, grassy conifer forests. The mushrooms have convex to bell-shaped caps 1.5–2 cm (0.6–0.8 in) in diameter, atop slender cylindrical stems that are up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) long. The color of the caps changes with variations in hydration, ranging from dark chestnut brown to straw yellow or whitish when dry. The base of the stem is densely covered with conspicuous white rhizomorphs, a characteristic uncommon amongst Psilocybe species.

<i>Psilocybe makarorae</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe makarorae is a species of psilocybin mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae. Officially described as new to science in 1995, it is known only from New Zealand, where it grows on rotting wood and twigs of southern beeches. The fruit body (mushroom) has a brownish cap with lighter coloured margins, measuring up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) wide. The cap shape is either conical, bell-shaped, or flat depending on the age of the mushroom, and it features a prominent umbo. Although the whitish stem does not form a true ring, it retains remnants of the partial veil that covers and protects the gills of young fruit bodies. P. makarorae mushrooms can be distinguished from the similar North American species Psilocybe caerulipes by microscopic characteristics such as the presence of cystidia on the gill faces (pleurocystidia), and cheilocystidia with more elongated necks. Based on the bluing reaction to injury, P. makarorae is presumed to contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.

Psilocybe tasmaniana is a species of coprophilous agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. It was described by Gastón Guzmán and Roy Watling in 1978 as a small tawny orange mushroom that grows on dung, with a slight blueing reaction to damage, known only from Tasmania and southeastern Australia. It was likened to Psilocybe subaeruginosa although characteristics, appearance, and the association with dung were not typical for that species. As a blueing member of the genus Psilocybe it contains the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin.

<i>Psilocybe allenii</i> Species of fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae

Psilocybe allenii is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. Described as new to science in 2012, it is named after John W. Allen, who provided the type collection. It is found in the northwestern North America from British Columbia, Canada to Los Angeles, California, most commonly within 10 miles (16 km) of the Pacific coast.

<i>Psilocybe angulospora</i> Species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae

Psilocybe angulospora is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. The species was described from Taiwan in 2015 and is also present in New Zealand, where it is considered introduced. As a blueing member of the genus Psilocybe it contains the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin.

<i>Psilocybe alutacea</i> Species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae

Psilocybe alutacea is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. It was described in 2006 and is known from Australia and New Zealand. It is coprophilous, growing on animal dung. The fruitbodies have a small conical or convex cap, subdistant gills with an adnate attachment, a slender brown stipe and a faint blueing reaction to damage. As a blueing member of the genus Psilocybe it contains the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chang, Yu Shyun; Mills, Alan K. (1992). "Reexamination of Psilocybe subaeruginosa and related species with comparative morphology, isozymes and mating compatibility studies". Mycological Research. 96 (6): 429–441. doi:10.1016/S0953-7562(09)81087-3.
  2. ↑ "Psilocybe cyanescens sensu Segedin, Beever, P.R. Johnst. & P.K. Buchanan". New Zealand Organisms Register, NZOR. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Psilocybe subaeruginosa Cleland". New Zealand Organisms Register, NZOR. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Cleland, J.; Burton, J. (1927). "Australian fungi: notes and descriptions—No. 6". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia. 51: 298–306.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, P.R.; Buchanan, P.K. (1995). "The genus Psilocybe (Agaricales) in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 33 (3): 379–388. Bibcode:1995NZJB...33..379J. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1995.10412964. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ Segedin, B.P.; Pennycook, S.R. (2001). "A nomenclatural checklist of agarics, boletes, and related secotioid and gasteromycetous fungi recorded from New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 39 (2): 285–348. Bibcode:2001NZJB...39..285S. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2001.9512739. S2CID   85352273.
  7. ↑ Cooper, J.A. "Psilocybe subaeruginosa Cleland (1927)". Landcare Research NZ Fungi Portal. Retrieved 2 October 2021. No sequences of material labelled P. subaeruginosa from NZ are the same as Australian material, and none has brown pleurocystidia possibly noted for the lost 'type' (AD Cleland 13251) studied by Guzman. In addition the true identity of Cleland's taxon requires further resolution and appropriate epitypification.
  8. 1 2 Guzmán, Gastón (1983). The Genus Psilocybe. Nova Hedwigia. ISBN   3-7682-5474-7.
  9. ↑ Guzmán, G; Bandala, V.M.; King, C.C. (1992). "Further observations on the genus Psilocybe from New Zealand". Mycotaxon. 46: 161–170 – via CYBERLIBER.
  10. ↑ Stamets, Paul (1996). Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World . Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. pp.  154–5. ISBN   0-9610798-0-0.
  11. ↑ Grgurinovic, Cheryl (1997). Larger Fungi of South Australia. Adelaide: Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium and Flora and Fauna of South Australia Handbooks Committee. ISBN   0-7308-0737-1.
  12. ↑ Cooper, J.A. (March 2021). "Strophariaceae senu lato in New Zealand - notes on Psilocybe". iNaturalist NZ. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  13. ↑ Picker, J.; Rickards, R.W. (1970). "Occurrence of psychomimetic agent psilocybin in an Australian agaric, Psilocybe subaeruginosa" (PDF). Australian Journal of Chemistry. 23 (4): 853–855. doi: 10.1071/CH9700853 .
  14. ↑ Perkal, Michael, Analysis of hallucinogens in psilocybe-type mushrooms [microform] / M. Perkal, Monash University
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