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

mexicana Heim. Like Psilocybe semilanceata, these
Mexican species thrive in meadows and pastures.
Another common trait among these species is the
rather subdued and subtle quality of their bluing
reaction. Recognition of these similarities with
Mexican species sparked the curiosity of scientists
who wanted to learn more about Europe's
Psilocybe species. A research team that included
A. Hofmann and R. Heim began to study samples
of Psilocybe semilanceata, in collaboration with C.
Furrer, a mycologist who examined fruiting bodies
collected in Switzerland and France. By 1963,
paper chromatography testing had yielded data of
historic significance. For the first time, scientists
had confirmed the presence of 0.25 % psilocybin
in dried samples of Psilocybe semilanceata.
Publication of the results represented an
extraordinary achievement, because psilocybin had
never before been detected in a European
mushroom species. Previously, the alkaloid had
been found only in Psilocybe species native to
Mexico, Asia and North America.
While Psilocybe semilanceata was not
recognized as an important psychoactive species
until the 1960s, descriptions of the species were
included in many standard German language
mycology reference books published before 1963.
Figure 10 shows examples of two such
descriptions, one of them dated 1962 and the
second one written about 60 years earlier. Note
that the 1962 version designates Psilocybe
semilanceata as a "worthless" species - a rather
incongruous conclusion likely to amuse today's
readers. On the other hand, accounts of and
knowledge about cases of mushroom intoxication
in England did not find their way into Germany's
mycological literature. A few authors, such as
Michael & Schulz (1927) and A. Ricken (1915)
see Figures 11 and 12, pp. 19-20) contributed
excellent and valuable descriptions of Psilocybe
semilanceata, but these are the exceptions, rather
than the rule. A description of Psilocybe
semilanceata from 1977 reflects less emphasis on
details, and a rather cursory approach to
differentiation of the species, except for additional
data on the mushroom's microscopic
characteristics (see Figure 13).
In addition, a German aquarelle painting
from 1927 of five fruiting bodies depicts the
mushroom's habitus in remarkably realistic detail
(see Figure 1, p. 4).
In 1967 and 1969 Psilocybe semilanceata
samples from Scotland and England were found
to contain psilocybin as well. Later on (1977),
Michaelis reported discovering the alkaloid in
samples collected in Germany (see Figure 14).
The Popularity of Psilocybe semilanceata
Since the late 1970s, investigators in
several countries have been using of state-of-theart
methodology (High Performance Liquid
Chromatography) to test samples and quantify
their alkaloid content. The following sections
include more detailed reviews of these tests and
their results.
Psilocybe semilanceata has clearly
established itself as t h e psychotropic mushroom
species in Europe. The species thrives throughout
the European continent, where it has sparked
extensive research efforts. In terms of usage,
Psilocybe semilanceata is Europe's most popular
psychoactive species. In his 1983 monograph,
Guzman suggests that Psilocybe semilanceata may
well be the most common psychoactive Psilocybe
mushroom in the world. Even though the species
is known to flourish in Europe, North America,
Australia and Asia, the mycofloras of many
countries have not yet been studied or
documented. Thus, we cannot yet evaluate the
prevalence of Psilocybe semilanceata on a global
scale.
In Europe, however, discoveries of
Psilocybe semilanceata have been reported from
the following countries: Finland, Norway,
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland,
Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium, France,
Russia, Poland, the former Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, England, Wales,
Italy and Spain.
Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive
maps detailing the species's
distribution pattern. Traditionally, mycologists
have often neglected relatively tiny species, such
as Psilocybe semilanceata, that tend to share their
habitats with other, more prominent species. The
sarcastic phrase "The mushrooms occur in
abundance wherever mycologists abound" is
particularly pertinent in reference to the Psilocybe
species. Prior to the discovery of psilocybin, the
Psilocybe genus languished in the literature,
shrouded in obscurity. To this day, few