Emily Johnson
Commonly known as 'magic mushrooms', dung-loving mushrooms are a species of mushroom in the family Strophariaceae. They are known to contain the psychoactive compounds psilocin and psilocybin, which can cause hallucinations and other psychedelic effects. These mushrooms are often found growing on herbivore dung, particularly that of cows and horses, and have a preference for humid climates and environments with high nutrient content. While they can be dangerous due to the presence of toxins, they have also been explored for their potential therapeutic benefits, with some experts predicting that psychedelics will play an increasingly vital role in addressing mental health challenges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Meadow muffin mushroom, dung demon, dung-loving Psilocybe |
| Genus | Psilocybe |
| Species | Deconica coprophila, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe angulospora, Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata |
| Location | North America, South America, East Asia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Florida, Gulf Coast States, California, Oregon, Washington |
| Climate | Humid |
| Soil | Nutrient-rich, high humidity, low wind |
| Preferred habitats | Exposed habitats like wood chips, manure piles, coastal dune grasses, creeks, mulched beds, grasslands, potted plants, garden centres, council landscaping |
| Colour | Red, orange, light brown, medium grey blue, pale gold, white |
| Shape | Hemispherical cap, conical, bell-shaped |
| Effects | Hallucinogenic, psychedelic, intoxicated, convulsions, phantasmagoria |
| Active compounds | Psilocybin, psilocin |
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What You'll Learn
Dung-loving mushrooms grow on herbivore dung
Some psychedelic mushrooms, including Psilocybe cubensis, grow on dung. Coprophilous fungi, or dung-loving fungi, are saprobic fungi that grow on animal dung. They are unwittingly consumed by herbivores from vegetation and are excreted along with the plant matter. The fungi then flourish in the faeces before releasing their spores to the surrounding area.
Dung-loving mushrooms grow well on large herbivore manure, such as that of rabbits, deer, cattle, horses, and sheep. They can also grow on straw. Some species rely on a specific type of dung, for example, Coprinus radiatus and Panaeolus campanulatus grow almost exclusively on horse feces. Others, like Panaeolus sphinctrinus, can grow on any feces or even just fertile soil. Dung-loving mushrooms are commonly found in the dung of herbivores because the animal and other fungi have already digested most of the nutrients.
Psilocybe cubensis, a psychedelic mushroom species, grows on cow dung and can be found throughout South America and East Asia, or anywhere with humidity over 85%. In the United States, they can be found year-round in Florida and usually from May through September in the Gulf Coast States. They are also known as 'shrooms,' 'magic mushrooms,' 'golden tops,' 'cubes,' or 'gold caps.'
Another dung-loving mushroom species, Deconica coprophila, commonly known as the dung-loving psilocybe, grows on cattle dung in much of North America. It has a hemispherical cap that is up to 2.5 centimetres wide and is usually red or orangish.
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They are also known as Psilocybe cubensis
Deconica coprophila, commonly known as the dung-loving mushroom, is a species of mushroom in the family Strophariaceae. It was first described as Agaricus coprophilus by Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard in 1793 and later transferred to the genus Psilocybe by Paul Kummer in 1871. In the first decade of the 2000s, molecular studies showed that the Psilocybe was polyphyletic, and the non-hallucinogenic species were moved to Deconica.
Some psychedelic mushrooms are known to grow on dung, specifically cow dung or faeces containing minimal stomach acid. One such species is Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as the magic mushroom, shroom, golden halo, golden teacher, cube, or gold cap. It is a species of psilocybin mushroom of moderate potency, with principal active compounds being psilocybin and psilocin. It belongs to the fungus family Hymenogastraceae and was previously known as Stropharia cubensis. It is the best-known psilocybin mushroom due to its wide distribution and ease of cultivation.
Psilocybe cubensis is a pan-tropical species, occurring in the Gulf Coast states and southeastern United States, Mexico, several Central and South American countries, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Australia, Fiji, and possibly Nepal and Hawaii. It grows on cow dung (and occasionally horse dung or water buffalo dung), sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. The ideal climate for its growth is humid, with humidity levels above 85%. In the northern hemisphere, mushrooms appear from February to December, while in the southern hemisphere, they appear from November to April.
Psilocybe cubensis has a brownish, pale, or yellowish cap, depending on the variety, and a smooth and sticky cap surface. It is commonly known as the sacred mushroom or blue mushroom in Brazil, and the San Ysidro or Palenque mushroom in the United States and Mexico. The term magic mushroom is often used to refer to hallucinogenic mushrooms in general.
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They are found in humid climates
Some psychedelic mushrooms are known to grow on dung, particularly that of cows and horses. These include the Psilocybe cubensis species, commonly known as "shrooms," "magic mushrooms," "golden tops," "cubes," or "gold caps." They are found in humid climates, typically where humidity exceeds 85%. This species can be found throughout South America, East Asia, and the Gulf Coast States in the United States, particularly in Florida. In addition to dung, these mushrooms can also be found in the wild where the soil is rich in nutrients, the humidity is high, and there is low wind.
Another dung-loving mushroom with psychedelic properties is the Psilocybe angulospora, found in Taiwan and New Zealand. In Taiwan, they grow wild on grassland among grasses, heavily manured soil, and cow dung. In New Zealand, they are often found in potted plants, garden centers, and outdoor gardens.
The dung-loving Psilocybe mushrooms are not the only ones that thrive in humid climates. Certain psychedelic mushrooms are known to favor wood chips in urban environments, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. These include Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata. They are commonly found in urban landscapes, such as gardens and landscaped areas of buildings in cities like San Francisco.
While the exact reasons for the preference for dung or wood chips are not fully understood, researchers like Jason Slot suggest that it may be related to the exposed nature of these habitats. The lack of protection in these environments may have driven the evolution of psychedelic compounds as a defense mechanism against grazing animals. The production of psychoactive compounds could deter animals from consuming these mushrooms, thus aiding their survival in such habitats.
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They are most common in South America and East Asia
While dung-loving mushrooms can be found all over the world, they are most common in South America and East Asia. In South America, specifically in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the Mazatec Indians use the Psilocybe yungensis species of psychedelic mushroom for entheogenic, or spiritual, ritualistic purposes. In the early 1500s, Catholic friars documented the Mazatec ritual consumption of magic mushrooms, which they called "teonanácatl".
In Mexico, the use and sale of certain sacred plants and fungi, like peyote and psilocybin mushrooms, are exempt from the law when used in Indigenous practices. As a result, towns like San Jose del Pacifico have become a global epicenter of mushroom tourism. Tourists from all over the world visit the town to buy and consume magic mushrooms.
In East Asia, magic mushrooms are also relatively common, especially among young backpackers. Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia, is one of the best places to experience magic mushrooms in this region.
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They are also found in the US state of Florida
While dung-loving mushrooms, or Deconica coprophila, are not known to be psychedelic, other species of psychedelic mushrooms are found in the US state of Florida. One such species is Psilocybe tampanensis, which was first discovered in Florida in 1977 in a sandy meadow near Tampa. This species is considered rare, as it was not found in Florida again until 44 years later. Psilocybe tampanensis contains the psychedelic compounds psilocin and psilocybin and is consumed for recreational and entheogenic purposes.
Another psychedelic mushroom species found in Florida is Psilocybe cubensis, which grows in cow dung in humid climates. This species can be found year-round in Florida and is known for its ease of cultivation. Psilocybe cubensis is commonly referred to as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms" and has distinctive "golden tops" or "gold caps."
In addition to naturally occurring psychedelic mushrooms, Florida has seen the emergence of dispensaries selling psychedelic mushroom products. Chillum, a hemp dispensary founded in Tampa, began offering "magic" mushroom products derived from a strain that is legal in all but one state. The owner, Carlos Hermida, navigates legal restrictions by avoiding the term "magic mushrooms" and sourcing mushrooms that do not contain psilocybin, which is illegal in the US.
Despite the emergence of psychedelic mushroom dispensaries, Florida lawmakers have taken steps to curb the distribution of psychedelic substances. The state's House and Senate panels approved agriculture legislation that explicitly outlaws the distribution of psychedelic mushroom spores and mycelium. The bill, known as HB 651, aims to prevent the spread of controlled substances like psilocybin and psilocin, which are already illegal in Florida. Possession of these substances can result in significant fines and jail time.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some mushrooms that grow on dung are psychedelic. For example, the Psilocybe cubensis species grows on cow dung in humid climates such as South America, East Asia, and some parts of the United States.
Some common nicknames for the Psilocybe cubensis mushroom include 'shrooms,' 'magic mushrooms,' 'golden tops,' 'cubes,' and 'gold caps.'
Yes, the Psilocybe angulospora species is also known to grow on cow dung in Taiwan and New Zealand.
Yes, it is important to exercise caution when consuming wild mushrooms. There are potentially toxic mushrooms that can resemble psychedelic mushrooms, and consuming the wrong type can be dangerous or even fatal.
One theory suggests that the evolution of psychedelic compounds in mushrooms may be a defense mechanism against grazing animals. The compounds may have evolved to deter animals from consuming the mushrooms, as fungi are nutritious and often exposed in their habitats.
