Jochen Gartz - Magic Mushrooms Around the ... - preterhuman.net

CHAPTER 10
OUTLOOK
Apparently, all of the most important
psilocybin-producing European mushroom species
are already well known. Their geographic
distribution and migration patterns, however, have
not yet been adequately investigated. This
knowledge gap primarily applies to recently
discovered species outside the Psilocybe genus. In
addition, there is a lack of comprehensive sources
of information on distribution patterns of Psilocybe
cyanescens for a number of different countries.
More Taxonomic, Ecological and
Chemical Data are Needed
I would like to suggest that, for most
species, even chemical analysis data should be
viewed as merely preliminary in nature. In order to
learn the truth about these mushrooms and such
issues as prevalence, migrations into new habitats,
specific positions within the mycological system as
a whole, or chemo-taxonomical concerns, we must
first acquire more taxonomic, ecological and
chemical data from the study of relevant
mushroom species. While further analysis of
fruiting body samples from known species in order
to determine alkaloid content variability remains
an essential task, future research must also include
efforts to identify secondary substances, as well as
their structural isolation. Baeocystin, for example,
appears to be an alkaloid primarily found in
mushrooms from temperate climate zones, and it is
less common in tropical species. Today, there are
substantial doubts over whether the synthesis of
Baeocystin as described in 1988 is actually
feasible. There is an urgent need for additional
research on the synthesis of this substance.
Possibly, a number of different mushroom
ingredients may have psychotropic effects. As
such, they could act as modifiers of psilocybin's
primary effects in various ways. For instance,
accounts of mushroom usage from ancient Mexico
already included observations about different types
of effect associated with the various mushroom
species in use. Perhaps these distinctions are not
just the result of different concentrations of
psilocybin and psilocin. Moreover, among
European and North American mycophiles, the
vast majority stress the popularity of Psilocybe
semilanceata, a species favored over all others,
because of its reputation for causing the "richest"
kinds of experiences. Indeed, analyses of
Psilocybe semilanceata extracts typically confirm
the presence of eight indole compounds, whereas
other species, such as Psilocybe cubensis, usually
contain only half as many. Understanding just
how such ingredients interact with psilocybin
may well result in the development of new
clinical applications for these substances.
The mycological literature includes
information about several rare, if "questionable",
species, some of which have been reported to
show blue discolorations. The Mycena and
Pluteus genera, for example, include descriptions
of such mushroom species. If indole alkaloids
were to be found in mushrooms other than the
Agaricales (gilled mushrooms), it would mean a
sensational discovery. Future chemical analyses
are bound to identify additional psilocybinproducing
mushrooms among the European
species, which number about 5,000. There is an
even greater likelihood of discovering alkaloids in
many nonEuropean species, as the mycofloras of
most countries have not been researched as
extensively as Europe's.
Understanding the Mushrooms'
Powerful Magic
Ethnopharmacological research efforts
are also bound to generate remarkable results in
the near future. G. Samorini, for instance,
recently reported that Catalonia, Spain, is a region
where Psilocybe semilanceata has traditionally
been known by the unusual name of "sorgin
zorrotz", or "witches' tread". This label strongly
suggests early ritualistic usage of Psilocybe
semilanceata in that area. Interestingly, Catalonia
is also known as