PSILOCYBE: CHARACTERISTICS, REPRODUCTION, NUTRITION, EXAMPLES - BIOLOGY - 2025

Psilocybe is a genus of Basidiomycota fungi, belonging to the Strophariaceae family, which contains generally small species with bell-shaped or cone-shaped hats, with generally dark blades attached to the stipe. The stipe is generally thin, fragile and in some species retains remnants of the ring.

The genus was described as Agaricus "tribe" Psilocybe in 1821, with Psilocybe montana as the type species. However, recent studies showed that this taxon was polyphyletic and currently taxonomists have divided the genus into two different groups (Psilocybe and Deconica) and P. semilanceata designated as the type species of Psilocybe sensu stricto.

Psilocybe allenii. Taken and edited from: This image was created by user Nightflyer (Nightflyer) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images.You can contact this user here.English - español - français - italiano - македонски - português - +/−.

The species of this genus are saprophytes and widely distributed worldwide, with a greater diversity of species in Central and South America. There are about 300 species and, although it is popular belief that all of them grow directly on the feces of cattle, in reality very few species grow in this type of habitat.

Virtually all Psilocybe species produce psychoactive compounds, including psilocybin and psilocin, with hallucinogenic properties, the marketing of which is banned worldwide. However, the sale of fungi of this genus, or their spores, is still legal in some countries.

characteristics

The fungi of the genus Psilocybe generally have small fruiting bodies, with a color that can change depending on the hydration status of the organism, being generally yellowish brown, darker when fresh and pale when they lose water.

The hat is generally conical or flared, with the apex raised as a nipple. The foot is thin and fragile and in some species it retains remains of the ring. The fruiting body turns blue when cut.

The outermost layer of hyphae of the pileo is arranged so that it runs parallel to the surface of the pileus, forming a complexion.

The sporulation is dark and varies from lilac-brown to dark purple-brown. The spores are generally smooth and variable in shape ranging from rhomboidal to ellipsoidal spores and with a typical germinal pore located apically.

Virtually all Psilocybe species, with the sole exception perhaps of Psilocybe fuscofulva, produce compounds with hallucinogenic properties.

Taxonomy

The taxon Psilocybe was coined by the Swiss mycologist Elias Magnus Fries in 1821 under the name Agaricus tribe Psilocybe to contain agaric mushrooms with hallucinogenic properties and whose flesh turned blue when cut.

In that same work, Fries described 22 species and placed them within his so-called Psilocybe tribe, however at present only Psilocybe merdaria and P. montana remain in that genus.

Recent studies showed that gender, as defined up to that point, was polyphyletic. Therefore, the taxon was divided into two clades: one with species that turned blue and were hallucinogenic (Hymenogastraceae family) and another with the remaining species (Strophariaceae family).

The genus Psilocybe, in its strict sense, now passed into the Hymenogastraceae family, and taxonomists chose a new type species, P. semilanceata. It is currently estimated that this genus is represented by about 300 valid species.

Reproduction

The reproduction of Psilocybe semilanceata is typical of Agaricales fungi. Reproduction is of a heterothalic sexual type. As the spores germinate, they give rise to haploid hyphae. Two distinct and sexually compatible hyphae must meet and fuse to produce a dikaryote.

The dikaryon contains cells with two haploid nuclei. When the fungus develops the fruiting bodies, spores will form in the basidia, for this the two nuclei of each cell will fuse (karyogamy) and give rise to a diploid or zygote cell, which will later undergo meiosis to produce four spores. haploid.

These spores are going to be released to the environment, so that they hatch and unite with other compatible hyphae, to start a new cycle.

Nutrition

All the species of the genus Psilocybe require for their nutrition already elaborated and decomposing organic matter, that is to say they are saprophytic species. A few species grow directly on the feces of livestock, the rest of the species grow on the ground, although they take advantage of the nutrients from the feces.

Organisms release the enzymes that are going to process complex organic matter directly from the environment where they develop, and it is going to transform it into its simplest components, which it then absorbs to complete the feeding process.

Because the fungus does not take advantage of all the nutrients released from the extracellular digestion of organic matter, many of these compounds remain bioavailable to be used by other organisms, which is why they are considered important components of the flow of matter and energy in ecosystems where they develop.

Psilocybe semilanceata. Taken and edited from: Arp.

Chemical components

The fungi of the genus Psilocybe are characterized by presenting substances with hallucinogenic properties. The main alkaloids present in these mushrooms are psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin, of which the one with the greatest psychoactive activity is psilocin.

The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin are indirect because it is transformed into psilocin inside the body. This last compound is directly responsible for the hallucinogenic properties of the fungi of the genus.

Although both compounds are present in living mushrooms, psilocybin is much more stable than psilocin, which degrades when the body is cooked or dried. The chemical structure of psilocin is very similar to that of serotonin, an alkaloid that is responsible for regulating our emotions.

Psilocin, in low amounts, has an effect similar to that of serotonin, that is why it can cause a feeling of happiness, but in higher concentrations, it acts antagonistically with serotonin. Researchers believe that hallucinations could be due to excess serotonin in the blood.

Religious uses

Among the psychological effects of the Psilocybe alkaloids is a mystical sense of transcendence in time and space and of interconnection with all objects and living beings. Because of this, these mushrooms have been part of the rituals of different religions in different parts of the world.

These mushrooms, which have different names, such as magic mushrooms and gods' meat, have been used for magical and religious purposes for thousands of years and some researchers maintain that the first records of their use may be found in drawings dating from about 9000 a C..

These drawings, found on a mural in Tassili, Sahara desert, show psilocybid fungi and anthropomorphic figures carrying them. However, other researchers do not consider this evidence as conclusive of its use for any particular purpose, and others even doubt the authenticity of these drawings.

In pre-Hispanic America the use of these mushrooms in religious rituals is firmly demonstrated, there are even records from 1598, attributed to an indigenous named Tezozomoc who documented the use of the mushroom in 1502, during the coronation ceremonies of Moctezuma II.

The Spanish conquerors prohibited any type of non-Christian religious activity, with which the use of these mushrooms and their hallucinogenic properties was practically forgotten. They were subsequently documented again, and popularized, by Gordon Wasson and his wife Valentina Pavlovna, Timothy Leary, and others in the mid-20th century.

Effects edit

The alkaloids present in the fungi of the genus Psilocybe can have both physical and psychological effects, which generally can appear at the time of ingestion and have effects that can last approximately five hours.

The physical effects, although generally insignificant, can occur and include dilated pupils, altered heart rhythm, increased blood pressure, tremors, dizziness and very rarely nausea and diarrhea.

On the other hand, the psychological effects are much stronger and can include alteration of the sensations of time, space, of the sensorial perceptions, of the knowledge and the conscience.

In most cases the sensations are pleasant and even mystical. On the contrary, panic attacks, paranoia, psychosis, depression, among others, can also occur.

Legal status

The psychoactive substances produced by these mushrooms are illegally used and commercialized in most countries of the world, they are even indicated in list I of the United Nations Convention on psychotropic substances dating from 1971. However, some countries still allow the commercialization of the fungus and / or its spores.

Examples of representative species

Psilocybe semilanceata

Species popularly known as mongui or San Juan mushroom. It reaches a size of 5 cm, with a conical or flared hat, with a teat-shaped apex, its stipe does not present a ring and produces smooth and ellipsoidal spores. It is the species with the largest worldwide distribution within the genus.

The bioactive substances in this mushroom have hallucinogenic properties, but they have also been used for medical purposes. Medical uses include treating people with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or headaches, among other ailments.

Psilocybe cubensis

This species is also known as mongui, or laughing mushroom. It is slightly larger than P. semilanceata, with yellow bell edges and a color ranging from white with a yellow central spot to dark brown with an orange central spot. It also has worldwide distribution.

Its properties and uses are similar to those of Psilocybe semilanceata.

Psilocybe mexicana

Known as a little bird, it has a conical subumboned bell that reaches 3 cm in diameter. Like P. semilanceata and P. cubensis, it has hallucinogenic compounds and has been used in religious rituals by Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic civilizations.

Its distribution is much more restricted, since it only exists in Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Psilocybe mexicana. Taken and edited from: Cactu.

References

1. Psilocybe. On Wikipedia. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org
2. J. Cuesta & J. Jiménez. Mycological file. Psilocybe. Recovered from Amanitacesarea.com
3. S. Gibbons & W. Arunotayanun (2013). Natural Product (Fungal and Herbal) Novel Psychoactive Substances. In ovel Psychoactive Substances.
4. T. Froese, G. Guzmán & L. Guzmán-Dávalos (2016). On the origin of the genus Psilocybe and its potential ritual use in Ancient Africa and Europe
5. C. Lyre. Psilocybe semilanceata: characteristics, habitat and distribution, taxonomy, reproduction, nutrition, effects of its ingestion. Recovered from lifeder.com
6. G. Guzmán (2005). Species diversity of the genus Psilocybe (Basidiomycotina, Agaricales, Strophariaceae) in the world mycobiota, with special attention to hallucinogenic properties. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms.