Psilocybe semilanceata

Psilocybe semilanceata Spores

Psilocybe, the genus name, means ‘smooth head’–a reference to the silkily smooth, scaleless surface of caps of these grassland mushrooms. The specific epitet semilanceata comes from semi- meaning ‘half and–lanceata, which means ‘spear-shaped’. Some of these little mushrooms do indeed look like spears, although many have wiggly stems uncharacteristic of spear shafts.

The common name Magic Mushroom is, of course, a reference to the hallucinogenic nature of this grassland species

There is also a rare orange variety of psilocybe semilanceatas that grows in Spain and the PNW USA. There are a couple of pictures of this orange strain in our gallery. My friend from Spain that has been hunting these mushrooms for decades also tells me he seems albino from time to time and several shaded colors of semilanceatas. As well liberty caps grow alongside psilocybe Gallaeciae in Galicae Spain.

Although semilanceatas do not grow directly out of dung, they grow from the dung enriched soil below and through the dung when fresh. The dung acts as a casing of soil and provides shade and holds in moisture. My friends in Spain are lucky psilocybe mushrooms are legal in their country and a normal part of their culture. I can’t wait to go back to the Pyrenees mountains of Spain and enjoy the immense beauty and visit my friends for some exciting mushroom foraging again. Buy mushroom for depression and anxiety