Laura Smith
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the psychedelic compound psilocybin. They are found in different parts of the world, including the Pacific Northwest of the United States, the Midwest and Northeast, and the Gulf Coast and Southern States. Psilocybe mushrooms can also be found in South America, Central America, and Europe, and they have been used in religious and spiritual contexts by various cultures throughout history. While they can grow in the wild, they are often found near urban spaces, particularly on carbon-rich materials like wood chips and manure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Magic mushrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybe mushrooms |
| Active ingredient | Psilocybin |
| Other names | Shrooms, teonanacatl ("god's flesh" in Pre-Columbian Aztec), psychedelic mushrooms |
| Origin | Pacific Northwest of the United States or Australia |
| Habitat | Damp, chill, and wooded areas with excess carbon deposits like wood chips near urban spaces; commonly found in herbivore dung |
| Appearance | Small, averaging 2-3 inches in height; often chestnut brown and turn a deep purplish-blue when crushed due to the presence of purple spores |
| Potent species | P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, P. cyanescens, P. ovoideocystidiata, P. allenii |
| Effects | Hallucinogenic, psychoactive, and psychedelic; can induce nausea, vomiting, euphoria, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination |
| Uses | Recreational drug, religious ceremonies, alternative medicine for treating mental health issues |
| Legality | Decriminalized in some regions of the United States for medical use but remains illegal under federal law |
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What You'll Learn
Pacific Northwest
Psilocybe mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, are known to grow in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. They are most commonly found in damp, chill environments, often near urban spaces. While they do exist in the wild, they are most frequently spotted in urban-proximate areas, particularly on excess carbon deposits like wood chips. The Pacific Northwest is one of the primary regions where P. cyanescens, a potent psychedelic mushroom species, is found. This species is characterised by its wavy cap and chestnut-brown colour, which fades to a paler shade when dried.
P. cyanescens is widely sought after by recreational drug users due to its potency. It is known to grow on wood chips, especially in landscaped areas like mulched plant beds in urban settings. However, it requires lignin-rich substrates and is not typically found on bark mulch. This species is also native to certain parts of Oregon, such as Astoria, where it thrives in sandy environments near the mouth of the Columbia River. It grows on driftwood among beach grasses and sand dunes and was once a common urban weed mushroom in Vancouver.
The Pacific Northwest is also home to other psychedelic mushroom species, such as Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly known as the Liberty Cap. This species is prevalent in British Columbia and is considered "user-friendly" by enthusiasts. It grows from dead grass roots in wet pastures and grazed fields, as well as in lawns and playing fields in coastal areas. While it is a common weed species in urban and suburban landscapes, consuming it is not recommended due to its resemblance to deadly Galerina species.
In addition to these, there are other varieties of psychedelic mushrooms found in the Pacific Northwest, including Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa, which occasionally appears in grassy fields, and Conocybe cyanopus, which grows in wet mossy lawns during wet summers and warm early autumn. These mushrooms offer a glimpse into the diverse world of fungi in the region, attracting both scientific interest and recreational use.
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Midwest and Northeast
In the United States, psychedelic mushrooms can be found in diverse regions, including cosmopolitan cities, pristine wildernesses, and rural areas. Urban environments, such as parks and gardens in cities like Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, can yield species like Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata. These species are known to thrive in wood chips, mulch, and manure piles, which are commonly found in urban and suburban settings.
In the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States, several states offer good opportunities for foraging psychedelic mushrooms. The corridor from Ohio through Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont is particularly noteworthy for its abundance of psilocybin mushrooms. High rates of Psilocybe caerulipes have been spotted in specific counties within these states, including Ashland County in Ohio, Warren County in Pennsylvania, Cattaraugus County in New York, and Washington County in Vermont.
Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, commonly known as the ovoid mushroom, is another species native to the Midwest and Eastern United States. Its range spans from Missouri to Rhode Island and from Georgia to Michigan, with a notable presence in the Ohio River Valley. This species is often found along rivers and streams, particularly in overflow areas, where it grows on woody debris.
Foraging for psychedelic mushrooms in the Midwest and Northeast can be a rewarding experience, but it is essential to exercise caution. Mushroom foraging can be challenging, and it is difficult to distinguish edible species from toxic ones. It is crucial to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them, and if there is any doubt, it is best to avoid ingestion. Additionally, it is important to follow local laws and regulations regarding mushroom foraging and possession, as the legal status of psychedelic mushrooms may vary across different states and municipalities.
The fall season marks the beginning of mushroom foraging in the Midwest and Northeast, as damp conditions create favourable environments for mushroom growth. Foragers should be equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools, and safety precautions to engage in this activity responsibly and legally.
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Gulf Coast and Southern States
The Gulf Coast and Southern States of the United States are home to a diverse array of fungal species, including psychedelic mushrooms. The Psilocybe cubensis, specifically the Gulf Coast strain, is a well-known variety found in this region, particularly along the picturesque shores of Florida's Gulf Coast. This strain is characterised by its impressive potency and prolific fruiting tendencies, making it a favourite among cultivators and users alike.
The Gulf Coast strain of Psilocybe cubensis thrives in the unique ecological conditions of Florida's Gulf Coast. It emerges from the sandy shores and lush landscapes, embodying the spirit of its geographical origins. The cultivation process involves preparing a suitable substrate, using spore syringes, and maintaining optimal humidity and temperature. The ideal colonisation temperature for this strain ranges between 84 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, providing the perfect environment for the mycelium to flourish.
In addition to the Gulf Coast strain, other varieties of psychedelic mushrooms can be found in the Southern States. For example, in relatively cold and wet areas like Washington and Oregon, Psilocybe cyanescens and ovoids can be found growing in natural environments, including coastal dune grasses and along creeks. However, as one moves further south into California, these species become exclusively urban fungi, favouring regularly watered wood chips in landscaped areas.
While the focus of this discussion is on the Gulf Coast and Southern States, it is worth noting that psychedelic mushrooms are widely distributed across the United States. Their presence is not limited to natural environments, as they can also be found in urban settings, such as parks and gardens, due to their ability to thrive in human-made environments. The evolution of psychedelic compounds in mushrooms is thought to be linked to their preference for exposed habitats like wood chips and manure piles, which offer limited protection from grazing animals.
The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) has published a comprehensive field guide titled "Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States," authored by mycological experts Alan and Arleen Bessette, and David Lewis. This field guide covers Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, providing descriptions of over a thousand fungal species, including unique chanterelle species of the Gulf Coast region. NAMA is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to promoting scientific and educational activities related to fungi, advocating for the sustainable and responsible utilisation of mushrooms.
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Herbivore dung
Psilocybe or "magic mushrooms" are commonly found in herbivore dung, where the animal and other fungi have already extracted the nutrients. These mushrooms are thought to have evolved the ability to produce psychoactive compounds as a defence mechanism against grazing animals. Research has shown that psilocybin binds to certain receptors in the brains of rats, suggesting that the presence of these compounds may be a result of evolutionary pressure from high populations of small mammals.
Dung-loving mushroom species, or coprophilous fungi, grow well on large herbivore manure, particularly that of cows and horses. Cow manure has a more neutral pH and is more nutrient-dense, while horse dung is more acidic and decomposes more quickly, favouring certain species such as Coprinus radiatus and Panaeolus campanulatus.
Some psychedelic mushrooms that grow in herbivore dung include Psilocybe cubensis, which is one of the most well-known varieties, and several species within the Panaeolus genus, such as the Banded Mottlegill (Panaeolus cinctulus) and the Blue Meenie (Panaeolus cyanescens). These mushrooms are known to produce psychoactive effects and have been used by humans for religious ceremonies, healing rituals, and recreational purposes.
While the Pacific Northwest of the United States is known for its abundance of wild psychedelic mushrooms, urban environments in this region, such as San Francisco, have also become hotspots for these fungi, with a dozen or so species thriving in landscaped areas and gardens.
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Urban areas
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are hallucinogenic mushrooms that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin when ingested. They are generally found in forest humus soils, near streams, coastal dune grasses, and in high humidity areas.
In urban areas, psilocybin mushrooms can be found in landscaped gardens and flower beds, particularly in relatively cold and wet regions like the Pacific Northwest of the United States, including Washington, Oregon, and San Francisco. These mushrooms thrive in man-made environments, often growing on excess carbon deposits like mulch beds and
For example, in Portland, Oregon, psychedelic mushrooms have been found growing in wood chips in urban neighbourhoods. Similarly, in San Francisco, it is not uncommon to stumble upon a dozen species of urban mushrooms, including the psychedelic Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, growing in gardens and landscaped areas of office buildings or apartment complexes.
The spread of psilocybin mushrooms in urban areas is partly due to human activities. Since the 1970s, psychedelic enthusiasts have transported and spread the spores of these mushrooms to new habitats, leading to their proliferation in urban and peri-urban regions. As a result, some species, like Psilocybe cyanenscens, have become "weed mushrooms," commonly growing in ornamental wood chips in the Pacific Northwest.
While psilocybin mushrooms are more commonly found near urban spaces, they are relatively rare in truly wild environments. Their growth is facilitated by human activities and the carbon-rich substrates found in landscaped urban settings.
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Frequently asked questions
Psychedelic mushrooms are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from the Washington state border with Canada down to Northern California. They are also found in the Midwest and Northeast, stretching from Ohio to Vermont, and in the forests along the Gulf Coast and in Southern states like Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and North Carolina.
Psychedelic mushrooms can be found in the wild, typically in damp, chill, and wooded areas. They are often found on excess carbon deposits like wood chips and herbivore dung.
Psychedelic mushrooms can also be found in urban areas, particularly in landscaped gardens and office buildings or apartment complexes.
Some common species of psychedelic mushrooms include Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata. These species are known for turning a deep purplish-blue when crushed or bruised.
