Psilocybe semilanceata - Magic Mushroom

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly known in the UK as the Magic Mushroom, and in the USA as Liberty Cap, appears in grassland in autumn. It is most commonly found on pasture that has not been enriched with artificial fertiliser.

This little mushroom contains the dangerous toxin Psilocybin. This substance occurs in magic mushrooms and several other closely related fungi and can cause alarming symptoms including vomiting, stomach pains and anxiety attacks.

It is our understanding that it is illegal to possess or to sell Psilocybin in the UK. As of July 2005, fresh psilocybin mushrooms are now also controlled. They are now treated in Law in the same way as dried magic mushrooms, as whether fresh or dried they have the same Class A drug status as Heroin, LSD and Cocaine.

Identification Guide

Cap	Ranging from 0.5 to 2cm in diameter, the cream-coloured caps have striations that become more pronounced with age and in dry weather. The caps usually have a distinct pimple on the top.
Gills	The olive-grey free gills turn purple-black as the spores mature.
Stem	2 to 3mm in diameter and 4 to 10cm tall, the slender stem is usually wavy and sometimes coloured blue towards the base.
Spore print	Very dark purple-brown.
Odour/taste	Musty odour. Hallucinogenic, and some people have required hospital treatment after eating these fungi.
Habitat	This halucinogenic species does not grow on dug in lowland meadows and is much more often found on upland pastures, most notably on hill slopes.
Season	Throughout summer and autumn.
Occurrence	Fairly frequent but localised.
Similar species	Panaeolus semiovatus, the Dung Roundhead, is usually larger and does not have a pointed cap. Panaeolina foenisecii, the Brown Mottlegill or Mower's Mushroom, is very similar in colour but is usually larger and does not have a pointed cap.