''Psilocybe medullosa'' 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 ...
. It was originally
described in 1898 as ''Naucoria medullosa'' by Italian mycologist
Giacomo Bresadola
Giacomo Bresadola ( Mezzana, Trento; often given as Giacopo) 14 February 1847 – Trento 9 June 1929) was an eminent Italian mycologist. Fungi he named include the deadly '' Lepiota helveola'' and ''Inocybe patouillardii'', though the latter ...
.
Czech mycologist Jan Borovička transferred it to ''
Psilocybe
''Psilocybe'' ( ) is a genus of gilled mushrooms, growing worldwide, in the family Hymenogastraceae. Most or nearly all species contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.
Taxonomy
Taxonomic history
A 2002 study of the mole ...
'' in 2007.
A widespread but rather rare species, it is found in Europe, where it grows as a
saprobe
Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi (f ...
on woody debris and detritus. Chemical analysis has been used to confirm the presence of the
psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
compounds
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 ...
and
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 ...
in the
fruit bodies
The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...
but probably at low levels.
''
Psilocybe silvatica
''Psilocybe silvatica'' is a psilocybin mushroom in the section ''Semilanceatae'' of the genus ''Psilocybe''. Psilocybin is the main active compound. The species is closely related to its European twin '' Psilocybe medullosa'', which differs gen ...
'' is its American sister species; it differs by subtle changes in molecular markers (LSU, ITS rDNA, and others).
See also
*
List of ''Psilocybe'' species
*
List of psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms are mushrooms which contain the hallucinogenic substances psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin and norbaeocystin. The mushrooms are collected and grown as an entheogen and recreational drug, despite being illegal in many count ...
References
External links
*
Entheogens
Fungi described in 1898
Psychoactive fungi
medullosa
Psychedelic tryptamine carriers
Fungi of Europe
Taxa named by Giacomo Bresadola
{{Hymenogastraceae-stub