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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
189. Psilocybe semilanceata Fr. [Worthless] The cap is uniformly conic to bell-shaped, with a pointy or obtuse center forming an almost wart-like protrusion; initially, caps are often taller than they are wide, margins are bent and curved inward; later on, width of cap is 1.5-4 cm. Hygrophanous; coloration is a dirtyish olive-brown when wet, with translucent striate margins; at the center, coloration is ocher or greenish-yellow against an overall shade of smudgy pale yellow and oftentimes some greenish stains; only the margins are banded by a darkcolored, watery stripe around the edge. No stripes or banding evident when mushrooms are completely dried. Lacking a veil, caps are thin-fleshed, bald, with an easily separable pellicle that remains gelatinous-sticky for a long time, turning shiny when dry. Gills are olive brown to blackish purple brown in color, with the edges often remaining white, gill spacing is quite crowded; gill attachment is either roughly linear or mostly adnexed; up to 3.5 mm wide; attached at the stem only, fully detached later on. Spores are elongated to ellipitical in shape, smooth and large, measuring 12-16 u by 6-8,u. Color of spore dust is blackish purple brown. Stem is very slender, almost uniformly thin and always twisted, 6-12 cm long and 1.25-2 mm thick, yellowish or whitish in color; areas subjected to pressure develop bluishgreen stains. Stems are silky smooth and roughly at the center, cortinate fibrils appear like remnants of a veil, which is brittle and lined with a white fibrous cord of wool-like texture. When dry, the flesh of the cap is colored pale yellow, while the stem's flesh is ocher brown in color, especially towards the bottom. It is odorless and its flavor is mild. The mushroom grows from August to October, frequently in gregarious clusters, and can be found in pastures and along roadways, growing on dung that has undergone complete decomposition. It is not a particularly rare species. Figure 11(above)This excellent description of Psilocybe semilanceata by Michael & Schulz (1927) is shown here as originally published in German, with an English translation.
Page 3 and 4: JOCHEN GARTZ MAGIC MUSHROOMS Around
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENT (With Active Links
Page 7 and 8: FOREWORD WHO WAS THE FIRST MAGICIAN
Page 9 and 10: CHAPTER 1 I BELIEVE THE TIME HAS CO
Page 11 and 12: semilanceata played an important ro
Page 13 and 14: eaction to Leary's markedly unortho
Page 15 and 16: Mr. E Branl, on a poisonous Species
Page 17: Stalks generally single, sometimes
Page 22: a forest clearing between a creek a
Page 25 and 26: thoughts - later on I discovered th
Page 27 and 28: Biochemical precursor of psilocybin
Page 29 and 30: CHAPTER 3.2 PSILOCYBE CYANESCENS -
Page 31 and 32: from the mycelia. For instance, oth
Page 33 and 34: Figure 24 - Psilocybe cyanescens at
Page 35 and 36: however, did not include any rough
Page 37 and 38: CHAPTER 3.3 PANAEOLUS SUBBALTEATUS
Page 39 and 40: 192. Panaeolus subbalteatus Berk.u.
Page 41 and 42: maps showing distribution patterns
Page 43 and 44: (age 11) experienced cramps and los
Page 45 and 46: about deaths following ingestion of
Page 47 and 48: Figure 32 - Description of Inocybe
Page 49 and 50: Unlike species of thin-fleshed Psil
Page 51 and 52: CHAPTER 3.5 GYMNOPILUS PURPURATUS -
Page 53 and 54: incurved later, occasional blue sta
Page 55 and 56: CHAPTER 3.6 CONOCYBE CYANOPUS - TIN
Page 57 and 58: Figure 35 - Sclerotia of Conocybe c
Page 59 and 60: TABLE 10 Psilocybin and Urea Conten
Page 61 and 62: CHAPTER 4 MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION:
Page 63 and 64: CHAPTER 5 THE BLUING PHENOMENON AND
Page 65 and 66: The Agaricales As Alkaloid Producer
Page 67 and 68: Nature, but often need to be specia
Page 69 and 70:
succeeded at growing fruiting bodie
Page 71 and 72:
Figure 43 - Gymnopilus purpuratus f
Page 73 and 74:
Figure 46 - Psilocybe semilanceata
Page 75 and 76:
portions of mycelia whose texture i
Page 77 and 78:
CHAPTER 7 PSYCHOTROPIC MUSHROOM SPE
Page 79 and 80:
CHAPTER 7.1 SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH AMER
Page 81 and 82:
isolated from fruiting bodies that
Page 83 and 84:
cubensis under an old name. South A
Page 85 and 86:
possession of Psilocybe cubensis an
Page 87 and 88:
CHAPTER 7.4 EUROPEAN CUSTOMS The fi
Page 89 and 90:
Panic Reactions In cases when intox
Page 91 and 92:
popularity. However, it is possible
Page 93 and 94:
CHAPTER 7.5 JAPANESE EXPERIMENTATIO
Page 95 and 96:
CHAPTER 7.6 INTOXICATIONS AND THE O
Page 97 and 98:
annular ring. The mushrooms are com
Page 99 and 100:
Figure 60 - Psilocybe samuiensis on
Page 101 and 102:
German Tourist Boom On Koh Samui an
Page 103 and 104:
psychoactivity. Even though basic r
Page 105 and 106:
short-term and patients experienced
Page 107 and 108:
Figure 62 - "Peter Pan in Kensingto
Page 109 and 110:
therapeutic settings. The alkaloid
Page 111 and 112:
moss and I saw horns. It was a kind
Page 113 and 114:
Figure 64 - Laboratory culture of P
Page 115 and 116:
Europe's only region where traditio
Page 117 and 118:
Figure 68 - Inocybe aeruginascens f
Page 119 and 120:
Figure 71 - Psilocybe stuntzii on m
Page 121 and 122:
Zauberpilzen. Helv. Chim. Acta, 42,
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3. General Reference Books Bresadol
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Psilocybe species and an investigat
Page 127 and 128:
Verrill, A.E. (1914). A recent case
Page 129 and 130:
INDEX (With Active Links' Just Clic
Page 131 and 132:
Psilocybe spp., 4, 5, 9, 10-12, 14-
Page 133:
PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS (lis
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