''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa'', also known as rhododendron psilocybe and blue-haired psilocybe, is a psilocybin mushroom of the family Hymenogastraceae having psilocybin and psilocin as main active compounds. First documented in 1980 in the Pacific Northwest, it is relatively uncommon and can be distinguished from other closely related species by its smaller spores and forking cheilocystidia. '' Psilocybe cyanescens'' also has forking cheilocystidia, but less often than ''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa''. ''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa'' is also distinguished from ''Psilocybe cyanescens'' by an absence of pleurocystidia. The name of this species refers to the fibrils on the

Stipe (mycology) In mycology, a stipe () is the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal tissue. In many instances, however, the fertile hymeniu ...

that turn bluish in age, or when handled. This species is closely related to '' Psilocybe subfimetaria''.

Description

''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa'' has a farinaceous smell and taste.

Pileus

The Pileus is 1.4–3.5 cm in diameter and conic to convex to broadly convex then becoming flat in age. It is not usually umbonate. The pileus is deep chestnut brown and hygrophanous, fading to yellowish brown or grayish white when dry. The surface is viscid when moist from the separable gelatinous

pellicle Pellicle may refer to: * Pellicle (biology), a thin layer supporting the cell membrane in various protozoa * Pellicle mirror, a thin plastic membrane which may be used as a beam splitter or protective cover in optical systems *Pellicle (dental), ...

Gills

The gills are adnate to adnexed to slightly subdecurrent in age. It is light grayish, becoming purplish brown with age while the edges remain whitish.

Spores

''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa''

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

s are purplish brown in deposit, subellipsoid in shape, and (9)9.5–11(12) x (5.5)6–6.6(7)

μm The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...

Stipe

The stipe is 3–8 cm long and 0.5 cm thick. It has an equal structure only enlarging near the base. The stipe is striate, pallid to yellow brown with fine fibrils that stain blue when handled. The stipe has a

cortina Cortina may refer to: Things * Cortina (tango), a short piece of music played during a tango dance event * Ford Cortina, a medium-sized family car built by Ford of Britain from 1962 to 1982 **Lotus Cortina, a 1963–1968 performance variant on the ...

that sometimes leaves a fragile

annular zone Annulus (or anulus) or annular indicates a ring- or donut-shaped area or structure. It may refer to: Human anatomy * '' Anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis'', spinal structure * Annulus of Zinn, a.k.a. annular tendon or ''anulus tendineus co ...

. White rhizomorphs are at the base. The flesh is brownish and bruises bluish to indigo-black.

Microscopic features

''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa'' basidia each produce four spores, and rarely only two spores. The cheilocystidia are

fusiform Fusiform means having a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends. It is similar to the lemon-shape, but often implies a focal broadening of a structure that continues from one or both ends, such as an aneurysm on a b ...

to lanceolate and 22–33 x 5.5–7

, with an elongated, forking neck and are 1–1.5 μm thick at its apex. Pleurocystidia are absent in ''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa''.

Habitat and formation

''Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa'' is found growing scattered to gregarious, from September to December from Northern California to British Columbia, Canada. It is found in soils enriched with deciduous wood debris, among bush

lupin ''Lupinus'', commonly known as lupin, lupine, or regionally bluebonnet etc., is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae. The genus includes over 199 species, with centers of diversity in North and South America. Smaller centers occur ...

es, in Alder and Willow wood chips and bark mulch,

Fir Firs (''Abies'') are a genus of 48–56 species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family (biology), family Pinaceae. They are found on mountains throughout much of North America, North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The ...

sawdust, in coastal regions, in

rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...

gardens and nurseries, and in flood plains in river estuaries.

Chemistry

Both psilocybin and psilocin (0.05 mg per gram dry weight and 1.4 mg per gram psilocin) were detected by Beug and Bigwood.

References

* Stamets PE, Beug MW, Bigwood JE, Guzmán G. (1980). A new species and new variety of ''Psilocybe'' from North America. ''Mycotaxon'' 11(2): 476-484. {{Taxonbar, from=Q7255866 Entheogens Psychoactive fungi cyanofibrillosa Psychedelic tryptamine carriers Fungi of North America Taxa named by Gastón Guzmán