John Miller
Gold cap mushrooms, scientifically known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties. They are commonly known as magic mushrooms. Gold cap mushrooms are found in subtropical environments such as South America, Central America, and many areas in Southeast Asia. They are often consumed for recreational purposes and can be ingested in various forms, such as dried, brewed, steeped in tea, or incorporated into food. The mushrooms contain psychoactive compounds, psilocybin and psilocin, which are classified as controlled substances in many countries. The effects of gold cap mushrooms include perceptual changes, altered states, and enhanced visualizations. However, there are potential risks and negative effects associated with their consumption, including the possibility of misidentification with toxic look-alikes and the variability in potency and dosage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psilocybe cubensis |
| Common Names | Gold top, golden top, gold cap, golden teacher, magic mushroom, shroom, golden halo, cube, cubie, boomer, cap, sacred mushroom, blue mushroom, San Ysidro, Palenque mushroom, hed keequai |
| Active Compounds | Psilocybin, Psilocin |
| Appearance | Brown or light golden colour, with a dark brown area in the middle of their umbrella caps. The cap is 1.6-8 cm, with a smooth and sticky surface. |
| Habitat | Subtropical environments, including South America, Central America, Mexico, the US, Brazil, Australia, Zimbabwe, India, and Southeast Asia. Found on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. |
| Effects | Hallucinogenic, psychedelic, euphoria, altered states, perceptual changes, peacefulness, unity with surroundings, enhanced visualizations, intense hallucinations, stomach ache, upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting. |
| Side Effects | Addiction, co-occurring disorders, withdrawal symptoms, poisoning, death. |
| Legality | Schedule I Drug, controlled substance in many countries. |
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What You'll Learn
- Gold cap mushrooms are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties, similar to LSD
- They are also known as Psilocybe cubensis, magic mushrooms, or shrooms
- Gold cap mushrooms are found on cow dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil
- They have distinct physical attributes, including a brown or light golden colour
- The potency of gold cap mushrooms depends on various factors, including growing conditions and maturity upon harvest
Gold cap mushrooms are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties, similar to LSD
Gold cap mushrooms, scientifically known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties similar to LSD. They are commonly found in subtropical environments such as South America, Central America, Mexico, and parts of the United States. The mushrooms grow on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. They have a distinct appearance with a brown or light golden cap, sometimes with a white ring around the edge, and grey gills that darken as the mushroom matures.
Psilocybe cubensis is the scientific name for the fungus, which was first described in 1906 in Cuba. The species has a wide distribution and is easy to cultivate, making it one of the most well-known psilocybin mushrooms. The active compounds in gold cap mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin, which are both classified as controlled substances in many countries. Psilocybin is the primary psychoactive compound responsible for the hallucinogenic effects.
When ingested, gold cap mushrooms can cause perceptual changes and altered states of consciousness. The effects can include enhanced visualizations, such as brighter colours, and a sense of peace and unity with surroundings. However, there are also potential negative effects, including nausea, stomachaches, and intense hallucinations that may lead to trauma or psychological damage. The potency of the mushrooms can vary depending on growing conditions, maturity at harvest, and storage methods.
The use of gold cap mushrooms for recreational or spiritual purposes has a long history. In Mexico, the Aztecs used Psilocybe cubensis to seek divine guidance from the gods. Today, the Oaxacan region of Mexico is known for its psychedelic mushrooms, attracting seekers from all over the world. While psychedelic mushrooms are classified as Schedule I Drugs, the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin are being explored in some studies.
It is important to note that consuming gold cap mushrooms carries risks. Misidentification of the mushrooms can be dangerous, as they may be mistaken for other toxic fungi. Additionally, the potency and dosage of the mushrooms can lead to adverse effects, and individual body composition and brain chemistry play a significant role in determining appropriate doses. Seeking professional guidance and proper identification of the mushrooms is crucial before considering their consumption.
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They are also known as Psilocybe cubensis, magic mushrooms, or shrooms
Gold cap mushrooms, scientifically known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of psilocybin mushroom with moderate to high potency. They are also referred to as magic mushrooms or shrooms due to their hallucinogenic properties. The principal active compounds in these mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin, which are classified as controlled substances in many countries.
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms are widely distributed and easy to cultivate, making them one of the most well-known psilocybin mushrooms. They are commonly found on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. The mushrooms have a distinct appearance, with a brown or light golden cap that fades to a more golden-brown or yellowish colour with age. The cap often has a white ring around the edge and can range in size from less than 2 cm to over 8 cm. The gills are grey and thin, darkening with age while retaining a white edge, and the stem is white or yellow, shaped like a barrel, and can be a couple of inches to half a foot in height.
The hallucinogenic effects of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms have been recognised for centuries, with historical records indicating their use by the Aztecs to seek divine guidance. In modern times, these mushrooms are sometimes consumed recreationally, either dried or brewed into tea, to induce a psychedelic experience. However, it is important to note that the potency of these mushrooms can vary significantly depending on various factors, and misidentification can have serious consequences.
The effects of consuming gold cap mushrooms can include perceptual changes, enhanced visualisations, and a sense of peacefulness and unity with surroundings. However, there are also potential negative side effects, including stomachaches, nausea, and intense hallucinations that may lead to trauma or psychological damage. As such, it is important to exercise caution and seek proper identification when dealing with these mushrooms.
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Gold cap mushrooms are found on cow dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil
Gold cap mushrooms, scientifically known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties. They are commonly known as "magic mushrooms". Gold cap mushrooms are often found on cow dung, horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. In Asia, the species is also known to grow on water buffalo dung.
Gold cap mushrooms have a distinct appearance, with a light golden or brown cap and a white ring around the edge. The cap is smooth and sticky, and when bruised, all parts of the mushroom stain blue. The gills of the mushroom are thin and grey, darkening with age while retaining a white hue at the edges. The stem is white or yellow, barrel-shaped, and can range from a couple of inches to half a foot in height.
These mushrooms typically grow in subtropical environments such as South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern and southwestern United States. They are also found in other parts of the world, including Brazil, Australia, Zimbabwe, India, and Southeast Asia.
Gold cap mushrooms have been used for recreational and spiritual purposes due to their psychoactive compounds, psilocybin and psilocin. When ingested, these mushrooms can cause perceptual changes, altered states of consciousness, and hallucinations. However, it is important to note that consuming gold cap mushrooms can have varying side effects, and misidentification can be dangerous or even deadly.
The potency of gold cap mushrooms depends on various factors, including their growing conditions, maturity at harvest, and storage methods. They are often consumed in dried form, brewed in tea, or incorporated into food or cannabis.
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They have distinct physical attributes, including a brown or light golden colour
Gold cap mushrooms, scientifically known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties. They are commonly referred to as "magic mushrooms". They are found in subtropical environments such as South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern and southwestern United States. They can also be found in Brazil, Australia, Zimbabwe, India, and Southeast Asia.
Gold cap mushrooms have distinct physical attributes, including a brown or light golden colour. They are easily recognised by their iconic gold caps, which sometimes have a white ring around the outside. The caps are smooth and sticky, with a size range of 1.6–8 cm. The colour of the cap can vary from brown to pale gold or even white at the margin, and it fades to a more golden-brown or yellowish hue as the mushroom ages.
The gills of the gold cap mushroom are thin and grey, and they tend to darken as the mushroom matures, while their edges usually remain white. The stem is white or yellow and is shaped like a barrel, with a height of 4–15 cm and a thickness of 0.4–1.4 cm. The stem also tends to become yellowish with age.
The gold cap mushroom is a potent source of the hallucinogenic agent psilocybin, and it also contains the psychoactive compound psilocin. These compounds can cause perceptual changes and altered states of consciousness, including enhanced visualizations, a sense of peace and unity with surroundings, and distorted sense of time. However, there are also potential negative effects, including stomachaches, nausea, and intense hallucinations that can cause trauma or psychological damage.
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The potency of gold cap mushrooms depends on various factors, including growing conditions and maturity upon harvest
Gold cap mushrooms, scientifically known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties similar to LSD. They are commonly referred to as magic mushrooms and are widely distributed in subtropical environments such as South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern and southwestern US. They can be found growing on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. The mushrooms have a distinct appearance, with a brown or light golden cap that darkens to a golden-brown or yellowish hue as they mature. The cap often has a white ring around the edge, and all parts of the mushroom stain blue when bruised.
The concentration of psilocybin and psilocin in gold cap mushrooms can range from 0.14-0.42% (wet weight) to 0.37-1.30% (dry weight) in the whole mushroom. The cap typically contains higher concentrations, ranging from 0.17-0.78% (wet weight) to 0.44-1.35% (dry weight). The stem generally has lower concentrations, with values ranging from 0.09-0.30% (wet weight) to 0.05-1.27% (dry weight). These concentrations are significantly higher in dried mushrooms, with dried gold caps containing approximately ten times the concentration of psilocybin found in fresh mushrooms.
The potency of gold cap mushrooms can lead to varying degrees of side effects, ranging from mild to negative. Some common mild side effects include giggling, distorted sense of time, and enhanced visualizations with brighter colors. However, ingesting extremely high dosages, especially in dried or brewed forms, can cause negative side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and frightening hallucinations that may result in lasting psychological damage. The effects of gold cap mushrooms can vary from person to person, and individual body composition, brain chemistry, and psychological predisposition play a role in determining appropriate doses.
It is important to note that psychedelic mushrooms, including gold cap mushrooms, are classified as Schedule I Drugs, and the misuse or abuse of these substances can lead to adverse health consequences and addiction. Proper identification of these mushrooms is crucial to avoid deadly misidentifications, as they may resemble other potentially toxic fungi.
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Frequently asked questions
Gold cap mushrooms, also known as Psilocybe cubensis, are a species of fungi that contain hallucinogenic properties. They are commonly referred to as magic mushrooms.
Gold cap mushrooms have a brown or light golden cap with a dark brown area in the middle. They have thin, grey gills that darken as they mature, and a white or yellow, barrel-shaped stem.
Gold cap mushrooms grow in subtropical environments such as South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern and southwestern US. They can also be found in Australia, Brazil, India, and Southeast Asia.
The effects of consuming gold cap mushrooms can include perceptual changes, hallucinations, and a sense of euphoria. However, it is important to note that the potency of the mushrooms can vary, and consuming them may lead to negative side effects or even poisoning and death in rare cases.
