Macroscopically, it is extremely difficult to
distinguish from Psilocybe semilanceata. Unlike
the latter species, however, Psilocybe pelliculosa
will grow in forests on wood chips and sawdust.
Beug and Bigwood were able to furnish
analytical proof in support of the claim that
Psilocybe pelliculosa is weaker in its psychotropic
effects than comparable species. Psilocybe
pelliculosa contains about 30-50% of the amount
of psilocybin found in Psilocybe cyanescens (slang
names: Blue wavy, Cyan, Grandote), a species
common across the Pacific Northwest. It fruits
primarily in parks, forming partial fairy rings. This
species did not become popular
among users until the mid-1970s. species still fruits most abundantly in the fall.
A New Psychoactive Mushroom Mushroom Trips as a Popular Sport
Several additional Psilocybe species have
been found in the Pacific Northwest, even though
the taxonomic classification of most of these
species remains inadequate, despite the fact that
monographs such as those by P. Stamets offer quite
detailed descriptions of the psychotropic
mycoflora. In the mid-1970s, Guzman and Ott
reported a rather spectacular event concerning the
spread of a "new" mushroom species. During the
fall of 1972, large numbers of a strongly bluing
gilled mushroom with a distinct ring pattern were
found at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The fruiting bodies were found growing on bark
mulch, which came from a central distribution
point and which had been spread widely across the
campus by gardeners. Due to the bluing reaction,
students at the university assumed that the
mushroom contained psilocybin, a belief that was
confirmed later on. The sudden appearance of
massive numbers of fruiting bodies quickly
inspired students at the university to use the
mushrooms as a hallucinogen.
In my opinion, it is still uncertain if the
mushroom really appeared spontaneously, or
whether it fruited on bark debris simply because the
substance had previously been mixed with spawn
derived from fruiting bodies that originated
elsewhere.
In any case, in 1976, the mushrooms were
named Psilocybe stuntzii Guzman & Ott (slang
name: "blue veil" or "stuntzees", (see Figures 54
and 71). Today, the species can be found growing
on bark and on lawns in parks, on golf courses,
football fields and gardens in numbers so large that
it is considered the second most important species
in terms of usage, after Psilocybe semilanceata. In
addition, Panaeolus subbalteatus is another
regionally important mushroom species (slang
name: "red cap"), even though its users believe it to
be slightly more poisonous than the Psilocybe
species. Still, the mushroom is used quite
frequently, because it begins to fruit during the
spring. The Psilocybe species, on the other hand, do
not appear until fall and continue to grow into early
winter, when temperatures consistently drop below
freezing, which inhibits further fruiting of the
spe by A. Hofmann, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals
manufactured about 2 kg (ca. 4.4lbs) of
pure psilocybin for scientific research purposes.
The results of pharmacological testing
soon revealed psilocybin as an alkaloid that was
perfectly safe for human subjects under controlled
experimental conditions. Despite this evidence, the
anti-drug legislative framework of the mid1960s
firmly established an "official mycophobia", a
misguided, yet entrenched policy that still prevails
today and effectively prevents the scientific
investigation of promising potential applications
for psilocybin and other alkaloids. At the same
time, mycological and biochemical
research studies have shown that psilocybincontaining
mushrooms thrive all over the world
and can be found on all continents. These
mushrooms are no different from any other
mycoflora and must not be excluded from
scientific investigation because of their alkaloid
content.
In addition to overall variations in value
systems across cultures, individuals tend to
develop their own personal attitudes towards
mushrooms in general. Oftentimes, the evolution
of specific opinions about mushrooms can be
traced back to childhood events, even though such
early experiences seldom account for the
development of prevailing biases and value
systems later in life.
I recall an incident from my own
childhood, which occurred when I was about five
years old. I was playing in a grassy meadow, when
a girl pointed to a brown mushroom and earnestly
explained that it was inedible and poisonous.
While I have never forgotten this encounter, I did
grow up to become a devoted mushroom
enthusiast. On the other hand, a different
childhood event has left me with the vivid memory
of discovering a landfill virtually covered with
vast numbers of gilled bluing mushrooms and the
sense of awe I experienced contemplating this
sight. In general, the unusual characteristics of
these mushrooms are most likely responsible for
strong impressions formed early in life, which then
may develop into various attitudes or beliefs later
on.
An enduring personal interest in
psychotropic mushroom species can serve to
amplify or diminish mycophobic as well as
mycophilic dispositions, depending on the
influence of other factors. After all, judgments
about the benefit or folly of deliberately altering
one's state of consciousness are also colored by
individual preferences, biases and opinions.
The following chapters are meant to
illustrate this diversity of attitudes towards
psychotropic mushrooms. Descriptions of planned
and involuntary experiments with specific
mushroom species offer convincing evidence that
the effects of psychoactive mushrooms are open to
many possible interpretations.
CHAPTER 3
THE CURRENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
EUROPEAN SPECIES
Figure 7 - Distribution pattern of Psilocybe cyanescens across Europe and North Africa
(according to Krieglsteiner). Black dots indicate approximate locatio own
cause of death and disease, bloated stomachs and
insanity. Beliefs such as these have survived to
the present day. They persist, for example,,, as
figures of speech, s u c h as the slick Austrian
description of a societal misfit as someone "who
ate those madness-inducing mushrooms."
But, there is another, very different,
magic mushroom legacy as well.
Flesh of the Gods for Devil Worshippers
The Old World. Mycenaean civilization
began with a mushroom trip -Mushrooms were
an ingredient in the ambrosia of Dionysus.
Porphyrius, the fourth century Latin poet and
contemporary of Emperor Konstantin, knew
that magic mushrooms were the children of the
gods.
WHO WAS THE FIRST MAGICIAN?
A quasi-cannibalistic ritual, the act of eating the
children of the gods unlocked one's power to
experience the truly divine. But not all
mushrooms enable human beings to enter the
realm of divine consciousness. This magic power
resides in only those fungi known as "fool's
mushrooms", which were considered poisonous
and believed to be the spawn of the Devil
throughout the late Middle Ages and well into
modern times.
The New World: The Aztecs in Mexico
referred to a number of small, inconspicuous
mushrooms as teonartacatl, or "flesh of the
Gods." These sacred mushrooms were eaten
during the course of rituals intended to contact
the Gods in order to learn about the world and the
realm of the divine. These magic mushroom
rituals thoroughly spooked the Catholic
Spaniards. The mushroom eaters, commonly
thought of as Devil worshippers, were hounded
by the Inquisition. Still, all good things survive
the tests of time, so the cult of magic mushroom
eaters did not become extinct. Like mycelia
underground, the cult continued to flourish, and
at the proper time in recorded history, in 1957,
the fruit of the fully grown mushroom re-surfaced
to draw widespread public attention. Valentine
and Gordon Wasson became the heroes of the
modern neo-mycophilic movement.
Back to the Old World: The revelations
and insights gained from the use of psychoactive
mushrooms were so magically wonderful, that
our native European "fool's mushrooms" - which
were gene ; considered inedible - had to be
recognized as closely related to the magic
mushrooms of Mexico, the flesh of the Aztec
Gods. The souls of magic mushrooms in Mexico
and Germany are essentially made from the same
substance: psilocybin.
Jochen Gartz has made an extraordinary
contribution to the field of mycology by embracing
Germany's magic mushrooms and the scientific
study and testing of these fungi. The research
efforts upon which this book is based require
nothing less than a fearless, brave and courageous
consciousness, free of prejudice and mycophobia. I
am convinced that a researcher's consciousness
infused by the spirit of the magic mushroom is
capable of far deeper scientific insights than we
can ever expect from the usual ivory tower
academics, isolated from reality
Macroscopically, it is extremely difficult to
distinguish from Psilocybe semilanceata. Unlike
the latter species, however, Psilocybe pelliculosa
will grow in forests on wood chips and sawdust.
Beug and Bigwood were able to furnish
analytical proof in support of the claim that
Psilocybe pelliculosa is weaker in its psychotropic
effects than comparable species. Psilocybe
pelliculosa contains about 30-50% of the amount
of psilocybin found in Psilocybe cyanescens (slang
names: Blue wavy, Cyan, Grandote), a species
common across the Pacific Northwest. It fruits
primarily in parks, forming partial fairy rings. This
species did not become popular
among users until the mid-1970s. species still fruits most abundantly in the fall.
A New Psychoactive Mushroom Mushroom Trips as a Popular Sport
Several additional Psilocybe species have
been found in the Pacific Northwest, even though
the taxonomic classification of most of these
species remains inadequate, despite the fact that
monographs such as those by P. Stamets offer quite
detailed descriptions of the psychotropic
mycoflora. In the mid-1970s, Guzman and Ott
reported a rather spectacular event concerning the
spread of a "new" mushroom species. During the
fall of 1972, large numbers of a strongly bluing
gilled mushroom with a distinct ring pattern were
found at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The fruiting bodies were found growing on bark
mulch, which came from a central distribution
point and which had been spread widely across the
campus by gardeners. Due to the bluing reaction,
students at the university assumed that the
mushroom contained psilocybin, a belief that was
confirmed later on. The sudden appearance of
massive numbers of fruiting bodies quickly
inspired students at the university to use the
mushrooms as a hallucinogen.
In my opinion, it is still uncertain if the
mushroom really appeared spontaneously, or
whether it fruited on bark debris simply because the
substance had previously been mixed with spawn
derived from fruiting bodies that originated
elsewhere.
In any case, in 1976, the mushrooms were
named Psilocybe stuntzii Guzman & Ott (slang
name: "blue veil" or "stuntzees", (see Figures 54
and 71). Today, the species can be found growing
on bark and on lawns in parks, on golf courses,
football fields and gardens in numbers so large that
it is considered the second most important species
in terms of usage, after Psilocybe semilanceata. In
addition, Panaeolus subbalteatus is another
regionally important mushroom species (slang
name: "red cap"), even though its users believe it to
be slightly more poisonous than the Psilocybe
species. Still, the mushroom is used quite
frequently, because it begins to fruit during the
spring. The Psilocybe species, on the other hand, do
not appear until fall and continue to grow into early
winter, when temperatures consistently drop below
freezing, which inhibits further fruiting of the
spe
Trippin On Shrooms and
familiarity with psychotropic mushrooms in
Europe that is most likely derived from
Psilocybe
Psilocybe
Psilocybe usage of
Psilocybes and related species, rather than
experience with Amanita muscaria. However, it is
extremely difficult to reject or confirm this
hypothesis, due to the lack of conclusive data
available for analysis today.
Bwyd Ellylon: A Feast of Fairies in
Celebration of the Spirit World
Tales of ritualistic mushroom usage have
found their way into the realm of myths and
legends. For instance, one legend describes a
peculiar poisonous mushroom in Wales (British
Isles) with the strange name of Bwyd Ellylon,
which was considered a delicacy by fairies feasting
in celebration of the spirit world. Psilocybe
semilanceata is the most important psilocybincontaining
mushroom in Europe and it thrives in
parts of Great Britain, where the mushroom grows
abundantly all across the Welsh countryside during
fall season.
I would like to thank G. Samorini for
pointing out that the Inquisition was unusually
cruel and vicious in the Alpine valleys of
Valcamonica, Valtrompia and Valtellina (located
in the provinces of Brescia and Sandrio in
Northern Italy). Many books chronicle countless
witch burnings in that region, with particular
emphasis on the witches' meetings at the "Monte
del Tonale", located at an altitude of 2000 m (ca.
6,000 ft). Field research has shown that plants of
the nightshade family ("witching herbs") do not
grow at this altitude; even the fly agaric mushroom
is rarely found there. By contrast, pastures in the
area abound with Psilocybe semilanceata during
the fall. Given this historical context, it would
seem likely that Psilocybe
semilanceata played an important role as a
psychotropic agent in the region (see Figure 58,
Chapter 7.4).
In light of medieval accounts describing
the practice of witchcraft, it is interesting to note
that a subjective sensation of flying or levitation is
among the commonly reported effects of
psilocybin intoxication.
Berserk Rage of Nordic Warriors
In the course of the
Psilocybe
Psilocybe
Psilocybe ideological power
struggle between Christianity and the remnants of
pagan religions that worshipped Nature, many
sources MAGIC SYRINGE MAGIC MAGIC of knowledge were lost. The aggressive
repression and eradication of pre-Christian
customs all but destroyed the continuity of
Europe's original cultural heritage, along with
much historic evidence documenting early cultural
practices, including the usage of plants and
mushrooms for the purpose of temporary
alterations of consciousness.
Some authors went so far as to blame the
fly agaric mushroom for proverbial fits of "berserk
rage" attributed to Nordic warriors. Many accounts
detailing this phenomenon allude to a "deception
of the eyes" (i.e. visual hallucinations). After the
Nordic legal system banished the practice of
"going berserk", it disappeared quite suddenly
during the 12th century. At about the same time,
Saxo Grammaticus speculated that the Berserkers
may have used mag
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 Trip Shrooms by Michael & Schulz (1927) is shown here as originally published in German, with an English translation. Mycologists spa 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. P. P. Spores Azurescens Sale 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 P. P. Spores Azurescens Sale 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. Mycologists spa 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 Danger Of Magic Mushroom 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 P. P. Spores Azurescens Sale 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
P. P. Spores Azurescens Sale
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. Mycologists spa 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. Mycologists sp a 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.
Mycologists spa 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" Naturally Occurring Psilocybin Mushrooms In 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 psilocybe azurescens spores 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 Buy Copelandia Cyanescens Grow Kit 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.
Mycologists spa 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. Mycologists spa have been reported from the following countries: Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Mushrooms Net 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
psilocybe azurescens spores
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. Mycologists sp e creek on wood chips of Carpinus, Alnus and Salix, on raw compost mixtures of Picea, Pinus and Larix needles, as Sept.
Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Figure 21 - Fruiting curve of Psilocybe cyanescens based on observations at several locations in the former Czechoslovakia. The mycelia make use of different kinds of plant debris and even grow on wet cardboard, where they develop into rhizomorphs just like they would in nature. Rhizomorphs are thick strands of mycelia that serve to transport nutrients and water. They also develop intense blue stains (see Figure 22). Figure 23 Distribution pattern of Psilocybe cyanescens in Germany and adjacent areas (according to Krieglsteiner). Locations are indicated by black dots. Figure 22 Psilocybe bohemica rhizomorphs growing on wet cardboard. Figure 24 - Psilocybe cyanescens at a natural location (USA). Figure 25 - Psilocybe bohemica on twigs and leaves.
Impressive Experiences Psilocybe bohemica is a very psychoactive species. Its effects are vividly documented in the following account of one natural scientist's experience as part of controlled clinical trials in Prague: About 30 mg of psilocybin in mushroom tissue was prepared in hot water, with effects already noticeable ten minutes after ingestion. I grew increasingly quiet. At first, my legs began to tingle, then my underarms as well. Aside from a deeper breathing rhythm, few other somatic effects were noted. Initially there were fits of laughter caused by unusual cognitive associations; this laughter also affected the two "sober" guides. A growing hyperacuity interfered with the ability to listen to music, so that Vivaldi's "Springtime" caused painful stabs inside the brain. I compared the pain to that caused by a "sawing knife". The experimenters appeared bloated and yellow... Existing bodily characteristics, such as thinning hair stimulated a person's illusionary transformation into a monk with tonsure. Their voices also appeared reverent and, from a somewhat paranoid point of view, these gentlemen at times seemed to be working a switching station that, for some reasons, was my enemy. At the same time, I found both of them to be quite likeable. During this time period, the other female subject perceived fantastic images of moving colors and saw visions of her whole life unfolding behind closed eyes. During this period, I had the distinct impression that an electrical current was flowing through my body, which was not an uncomfortable sensation. About three hours later, the gentlemen retired to the kitchen and the nature of the experience changed quite drastically. At first I felt as if my legs were increasingly merging into the Naturally Occurring Psilocybin Mushrooms In wall, a very comfortable experience. In a state of utter clarity of consciousness, I finally felt as if I had no body at all. I said. "The most descriptive expression is the experience of a pure soul". Using words as triggers, we were able to induce shared experiences o JOCHEN GARTZ MAGIC MUSHROOMS Around the World A Scientific Journey Across Cultures and Time The Case for Challenging Research and Value Systems * LIS PUBLICATIONS * LOS ANGELES, CA* Figure 1 - Water Color Painting of Psilocybe semilanceata (Germany, 1927) TABLE OF CONTENT (With Active Links' Just Click On A Subject To Go To The Page) "Who Was the First Magician?" - Foreword by Christian Ratsch 7 1. Introduction 9 2. Reflections on the History and Scientific Study of Magic Mushrooms 10 3. The Current State of Knowledge About European Species 14 3.1 Psilocybe semilanceata: The Classic Species Among European Psychotropic Mushrooms 16 3.2 Psilocybe cyanescens: Potent Mushrooms Growing on Wood Debris 29 3.3 Panaeolus subbalteatus: Mycology and Myths about the Panaeolus Species 37 3.4 Inocybe aeruginascens: Fast-Spreading New Arrivals 44 3.5 Gymnopilus purpuratus: Magnificent Mushrooms from South America 51 3.6 Conocybe cyanopus: Tiny Mushrooms of Remarkable Potency 55 3.7 Pluteus salicinus: A Little-known Wood-Inhabiting Species 58 4. Mushroom Identification: Taxonomic Confusion and the Potential for Deadly Mistakes 61 5. The Bluing Phenomenon and Metol Testing: Reality vs. Wishful Thinking 63 6. Mushroom Cultivation: Classic Findings and New Techniques 66 7. Psychotropic Mushroom Species Around the World 77 7.1 Spotlight on North America and Hawaii 79 7.2 Mycophilia in Central and South America 82 7.3 Australia's Mycoflora Attracts Attention 84 7.4 European Customs and Conventions 87 7.5 Japanese Experimentation 93 7.6 Intoxications and the Oldest Known Mushroom Cult in Africa 95 7.7 Usage in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands 98 8. Some Comments on Effects of Mushrooms from the Category Phantastika 102 9. Psychotherapy 108 10. Outlook 114 11. Bibliography 120 Index 129 Figure 2 - Psilocybe cubensis from Australia Figure 3 - Water color painting of Panaeolus subbalteatus (Germany, 1927). Figure 4 - Fresh Panaeolus subbalteatus mushrooms. FOREWORD Nobody knows precisely when the first magic mushroom emerged from the shadows of prehistory to enter the light of consciousness. Nobody knows when the first magic mushroom was eaten by a human being. Nobody knows just who the first magic mushroom eater was. In seeking answers to these questions, we can only speculate. Mycophobes, however, are quick to voice their conviction that only a fool would be reckless enough to want to attain a higher state of consciousness beyond the boundaries of everyday reality. And only a fool would attempt to do this by ingesting those odd little things that mysteriously thrive on decaying, humid soil, rotten wood and malodorous mounds of cow manure. Historically, magic, mushrooms have been feared and hated` since antiquity: magic mushrooms were thought to be made from poisons that had dripped from serpents' fangs; they were considered to be unclean emissions of evil spirits; moreover, mushrooms were a kn
sale sale for spores for @ 9/10/2010 9:50:08 PM
Most recreational users of Psilocybe cubensis (when grown in vitro) require a dosage of In addition, many early users of "magic mushrooms" in Australia may have first become aware of their mind-altering and visionary effects by reading the published literature or the many news items appearing in the popular Australian press during the late l960's and early l970's. These news items often described both accidental and deliberate intoxication's which resulted from the ingestion of several varieties of "magic mushrooms". For example, in 1972, one local newspaper report provided an account regarding the use of these mushrooms by young teenagers at a local high school in Brisbane: "...children at a suburban school are getting high on mushrooms called 'Gold Tops.' The mushrooms are common along the Brisbane River near Toowing High School, and children in search of `kicks' have been experimenting with them (Unsigned, 1972)." It would be very obvious to anyone who read this above mentioned news item, when it appeared in print, that those searching for hallucinogenic mushrooms would be able to find them if they so desired. There is yet another factor that may have played a significant role in promoting interest in the use of psychoactive mushrooms in Australia and NZ. Some drug users or mycophillic individuals may have read or heard of R. Gordon Wasson's personal account of his adventurous rediscovery of an hallucinogenic mushroom cult among the Mazatec Indians of Southern Mexico. Dr. Wasson reported the ceremonial use of certain mushrooms as divinatory substances among the Mazatecs and other native peoples in Oaxaca, Mexico (see Wasson, 1957). This journalistic report of Wasson's research expedition appeared in an international edition of Life Magazine in the late l950's, providing many drug users and others with the incentive to seek out, find, and eventually experiment with these mushrooms. ecialize in the study of Psilocybes, despite the fact that Psilocybe semilanceata is the most common and conspicuous species among the Psilocybes. Also, mushroom lovers whose interests are not purely scientific (see Chapter 7.4) do not usually preserve their knowledge for posterity in the form of distribution maps. However, there is one map from 1986, which shows the distribution pattern of Psilocybe semilanceata across Germany (see Figure 20, p. 28). Almost no published information is available about locations where Psilocybe species have been found in eastern Germany. During my own field trips, I have discovered Psilocybe semilanceata specimens in various locations, such as near my hometown of Mansfeld in the Vorharz Mountains, in the marshlands of Duben as well as in other eastern German marshland areas. In addition, friends who are also mycologists have told me about finding the mushrooms in other parts of the country. A book published in 1952 is among the rare sources that includes details about specimens discovered in the southeastern state of Saxony (see Figure 16, p. 23). The Psilocybe species grow most abundantly on wet pastures surrounded by forest areas. In my experience, Psilocybe semilanceata grows in most of Germany's forestlands. The species fruits during the fall, from late September through October. It favors acidic soil and grassy terrain alongside trails or around the edges of forest lands. Specimens are generally clustered in small groups of 30 mushrooms or less. Deer droppings or other animal feces are usually present at those locations, even though the mushrooms never grow directly on top of dung. Occasionally, extremely stunted specimens may be found in the mountains by the side of the road. The soil below older cow pastures provides an excellent medium for extensive mycelial growth. In some locations, large areas yield an abundance of fruiting bodies, mirroring the extent of mycelial saturation in the soil. Given adequate moisture, maximum yields can be expected, if the pasture was grazed at least once during the weeks before fruiting season. However, the mushrooms also thrive under similar conditions on horse and sheep pastures. Such grassy areas inside forests are usually grazing areas for deer, who provide the soil with additional fertilization. However, Psilocybe semilanceata does not grow in locations where artificial fertilizer has been used. Such pastures are often flanked by creeks or swamp lands, which saturate the soil with water. During the summertime, the warm climate in these wet areas provides an excellent environment for optimal mycelial growth. In Germany, the mushroom's habitat ranges from the coastal areas to mountainous regions, where the species has been found at altitudes of up to 1,720 m (5,160 ft) above sea level (MTB-8443, 1985). In the former Czechoslovakia, samples have been collected at altitudes ranging from 330 to 1,000 m (1,000 - , and who gorge themselves on our tax dollars. I met Jochen Gartz shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall at the third symposium of the European College for the Study of Consciousness (ECSC) in Freiburg, Germany. Our encounter was my first contact with a researcher from the former East Germany. Jochen Gartz's enthusiastic lecture was a truly consciousnessexpanding event, his words breaking down traditional borders and crossing over into new territory. The magic mushrooms spoke through him - with no trace of dogma or ideology - in the tradition of true anarchy that is the hallmark of mushroom magic. What I heard was unbelievable. Jochen spoke of a "new" psychedelic mushroom and its migration. The mycelia had spread in concentric circles outward from Leipzig, jumping all political borders. Finally, when the mycelia reached West German soil, the hated Berlin Wall crumbled. Could there possibly be a connection between the evolution of the magic mushroom and the evolution of our consciousness? Could a mushroom have contributed to the resolution of our political conflicts? In the past, politicians, even popes, had their own jesters and magicians, who functioned as pressure release valves in the machinations of political power struggles. It is obvious that a country whose chancellor is being pelted with eggs, urgently needs a new breed of magician who are able to readjust reality. But today, no aspiring magician should go about this task without this book as a guide for the wondrous journey into the realm of magic mushrooms. Christian Rdtsch Figure 5 - "Anthropomorphic Beings Engaged in Mushroom Dance" 10,000-year-old rock drawing in Tassili, Sahara (Algeria) CHAPTER 1 I BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF NEW FINDINGS FROM THE FIELDS OF MYCOLOGY, TAXONOMY AND NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY When R.G. Wasson, R. Heim and A. Hofmann began their interdisciplinary research program to study the Mexican species of mushrooms and their usage in Mexican mushroom cults, their efforts culminated in a 1958 landmark report that described the isolation, molecular structure and synthesis of the mushrooms' active ingredients: psilocybin and psilocin. Several years later, these substances were also identified in a species of mushroom in Europe, Psilocybe semilanceata, which became the first in a series of newly discovered species. Since then, psychoactive mushrooms from other genera have been reported with increasing frequency. As part of my analytical work dedicated to the identification of naturally occurring chemicals, I had the good fortune to be part of a research team that studied alkaloids found in a variety of mushroom species. Now I believe the time has come for a comprehensive review of new findings from the fields of mycology, taxonomy and natural products chemistry. Wasson and his successors have already provided detailed accounts pertaining to the history and study of the Me own cause of death and disease, bloated stomachs and insanity. Beliefs such as these have survived to the present day. They persist, for example,,, as figures of speech, s u c h as the slick Austrian description of a societal misfit as someone "who ate those madness-inducing mushrooms." But, there is another, very different, magic mushroom legacy as well. Flesh of the Gods for Devil Worshippers The Old World. Mycenaean civilization began with a mushroom trip -Mushrooms were an ingredient in the ambrosia of Dionysus. Porphyrius, the fourth century Latin poet and contemporary of Emperor Konstantin, knew that magic mushrooms were the children of the gods. WHO WAS THE FIRST MAGICIAN? A quasi-cannibalistic ritual, the act of eating the children of the gods unlocked one's power to experience the truly divine. But not all mushrooms enable human beings to enter the realm of divine consciousness. This magic power resides in only those fungi known as "fool's mushrooms", which were considered poisonous and believed to be the spawn of the Devil throughout the late Middle Ages and well into modern times. The New World: The Aztecs in Mexico referred to a number of small, inconspicuous mushrooms as teonartacatl, or "flesh of the Gods." These sacred mushrooms were eaten during the course of rituals intended to contact the Gods in order to learn about the world and the realm of the divine. These magic mushroom rituals thoroughly spooked the Catholic Spaniards. The mushroom eaters, commonly thought of as Devil worshippers, were hounded by the Inquisition. Still, all good things survive the tests of time, so the cult of magic mushroom eaters did not become extinct. Like mycelia underground, the cult continued to flourish, and at the proper time in recorded history, in 1957, the fruit of the fully grown mushroom re-surfaced to draw widespread public attention. Valentine and Gordon Wasson became the heroes of the modern neo-mycophilic movement. Back to the Old World: The revelations and insights gained from the use of psychoactive mushrooms were so magically wonderful, that our native European "fool's mushrooms" - which were gene ; considered inedible - had to be recognized as closely related to the magic mushrooms of Mexico, the flesh of the Aztec Gods. The souls of magic mushrooms in Mexico and Germany are essentially made from the same substance: psilocybin. Jochen Gartz has made an extraordinary contribution to the field of mycology by embracing Germany's magic mushrooms and the scientific study and testing of these fungi. The research efforts upon which this book is based require nothing less than a fearless, brave and courageous consciousness, free of prejudice and mycophobia. I am convinced that a researcher's consciousness infused by the spirit of the magic mushroom is capable of far deeper scientific insights than we can ever expect from the usual ivory tower academics, isolated from reality
and
familiarity with psychotropic mushrooms in
Europe that is most likely derived from usage of
Psilocybes and related species, rather than
experience with Amanita muscaria. However, it is
extremely difficult to reject or confirm this
hypothesis, due to the lack of conclusive data
available for analysis today.
Bwyd Ellylon: A Feast of Fairies in
Celebration of the Spirit World
Tales of ritualistic mushroom usage have
found their way into the realm of myths and
legends. For instance, one legend describes a
peculiar poisonous mushroom in Wales (British
Isles) with the strange name of Bwyd Ellylon,
which was considered a delicacy by fairies feasting
in celebration of the spirit world.
Psilocybe
semilanceata is the most important psilocybincontaining
mushroom in Europe and it thrives in
parts of Great Britain, where the mushroom grows
abundantly all across the Welsh countryside during
fall season.
I would like to thank G. Samorini for
pointing out that the Inquisition was unusually
cruel and vicious in the Alpine valleys of
Valcamonica, Valtrompia and Valtellina (located
in the provinces of Brescia and Sandrio in
Northern Italy). Many books chronicle countless
witch burnings in that region, with particular
emphasis on the witches' meetings at the "Monte
del Tonale", located at an altitude of 2000 m (ca.
6,000 ft). Field research has shown that plants of
the nightshade family ("witching herbs") do not
grow at this altitude; even the fly agaric mushroom
is rarely found there. By contrast, pastures in the
area abound with Psilocybe semilanceata during
the fall. Given this historical context, it would
seem likely that Psilocybe
semilanceata played an important role as a
psychotropic agent in the region (see Figure 58,
Chapter 7.
4).
In light of medieval accounts describing
the practice of witchcraft, it is interesting to note
that a subjective sensation Magic Mushroom Spore Syringe of flying or levitation is
among the commonly reported effects of
psilocybin intoxication.
Berserk Rage of Nordic Warriors
In the course of the ideological power
struggle between Christianity and the remnants of
pagan religions that worshipped Nature, many
sources of knowledge were lost. The aggressive
repression and eradication of pre-Christian
customs all but destroyed the continuity of
Europe's original cultural heritage, along with
much historic evidence documenting early cultural
practices, including the usage of plants and
mushrooms for the purpose of temporary
alterations of consciousness.
Some authors went so far as to blame the
fly agaric mushroom for proverbial fits of "berserk
rage" attributed to Nordic warriors. Many accounts
detailing this phenomenon allude to a "deception
of the eyes" (i.e. visual hallucinations). After the
Nordic legal system banished the practice of
"going berserk", it disappeared quite suddenly
during the 12th century. Shrooms And Drug Test At about the same time,
Saxo Grammaticus speculated that the Berserkers
may have used mag
2 Psilocybe cyanescens: Potent Mushrooms Growing on Wood Debris 29 3.
3 Panaeolus subbalteatus: Mycology and Myths about the Panaeolus Species 37 3.
4 Inocybe aeruginascens: Fast-Spreading New Arrivals 44 3.5 Gymnopilus purpuratus: Magnificent Mushrooms from South America 51 3.6 Conocybe cyanopus: Tiny Mushrooms of Remarkable Potency 55 3.7 Pluteus salicinus: A Little-known Wood-Inhabiting Species 58 4.
Mushroom Identification: Taxonomic Confusion and the Potential for Deadly Mistakes 61 5. The Bluing Phenomenon and Metol Testing: Reality vs. Wishful Thinking 63 6.
Mushroom Cultivation: Classic Findings and New Techniques 66 7. Psychotropic Mushroom Species Around the World 77 7.1 Spotlight on North America and Hawaii 79 7.
2 Mycophilia in Central and South America 82 7.3 Australia's Mycoflora Attracts Attention 84 7.4 European Customs and Conventions 87 7.
5 Japanese Experimentation 93 7.6 Intoxications and the Oldest Known Mushroom Cult in Africa 95 7.7 Usage in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands 98 8. Some Comments on Effects of Mushrooms from the Category Phantastika 102 9. Psychotherapy 108 10. Outlook 114 11. Bibliography 120 Index 129 Figure 2 - Psilocybe cubensis from Australia Figure 3 - Water color painting of Panaeolus subbalteatus (Germany, 1927). Figure 4 - Fresh Panaeolus subbalteatus mushrooms. FOREWORD Nobody knows precisely when the first magic mushroom emerged from the shadows of prehistory to enter the light of consciousness.
Nobody knows when the first magic mushroom was eaten by a human being. Nobody knows just who the first magic mushroom eater was. In seeking answers to Psilocybin Illinois these questions, we can only speculate. Mycophobes, however, are quick to voice their conviction that only a fool would be reckless enough to want to attain a higher state of consciousness beyond the boundaries of everyday reality. And only a fool would attempt to do this by ingesting those odd little things that mysteriously thrive on decaying, humid soil, rotten wood and malodorous mounds of cow manure. Historically, magic, mushrooms have been feared and hated` since antiquity: magic mushrooms were thought to be made from poisons that had dripped from serpents' fangs; they were considered to be unclean emissions of evil spirits; moreover, mushrooms were a kn