''Panaeolus affinis'' is a species of

psychoactive mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is th ...

belonging to the genus ''

Panaeolus ''Panaeolus'' is a genus of small, black-spored, saprotrophic agarics. The word ''Panaeolus'' is Greek for "all variegated", alluding to the spotted gills of the mushrooms produced. Characteristics These fungi are mostly dung and grassland sp ...

'' and is classified under the order

Agaricales The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms (for their distinctive gills) or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera, and over 13,000 described species, alo ...

. Before the name of the species was changed in 1996, it was known as ''Copelandia affinis.'' The mushroom was first observed in 1980 by E. Horak. The mushroom contains the chemicals

psilocybin Psilocybin ( , ) is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi. The most potent are members of the genus ''Psilocybe'', such as '' P. azurescens'', '' P. semilanceata'', and '' P.&nbs ...

and

psilocin Psilocin (also known as 4-HO-DMT, 4-hydroxy DMT, psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin) is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic substance. It is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counte ...

, which cause hallucinations and distorted perception of reality when ingested.

Drug use and ingestion

Although ''Panaeolus affinis'' is edible, it causes psychological effects if ingested due to the presence of the psilocybin. Because of this, it has been used by various cultures for shamanistic rituals and spiritual ceremonies, as well as recreationally to induce hallucination.

References

affinis Psychoactive fungi {{Fungi-stub