You’ve probably heard from people who witnessed their friends or relatives intoxicated because they weren’t able to distinguish what type of mushroom they took and it resulted in a mushroom poisoning. These are a common occurrence when you don’t know what type of mushrooms to pick. For beginners, it would be hard on how to tell if Shrooms are good that’s why in this article we’ll talk about that.
People need to know how to tell if Shrooms are good because just like any other mushrooms, they almost all look quite similar. This is the case for mushroom poisoning wherein people get poisoned because they mistakenly picked the wrong one instead of the magic mushroom type. If you are here for whether Shrooms are good or not, then you are on the right path. Before we start, it is important to know Psilocybin Mushrooms first!
What are Psilocybin Mushrooms?
Before we go into more detail, it is important to know what are Psilocybin Mushrooms first. Psilocybin mushrooms are the most famous magic mushrooms. They are famous for their psychoactive effects and other known health benefits. Among indigenous tribes, they are considered sacred herbs along with cannabis. These so-called magic mushrooms are used by these tribes for thousands of years and are used in special occasions and ceremonies. They are first used especially in South and Central America.
Magic Mushrooms are considered schedule 1 drugs because they have the controlled substance called Psilocybin – the primary compound which causes psychoactive and other health benefits. It is considered a schedule 1 drug because it is highly-exploitable and has the potential to be abused by human consumption.
Although there are 200 known mushrooms species scatter across the globe, however – the most potent Psilocybin mushrooms are found in the genus Psilocybe. Primarily, they are the most sought after Magic mushrooms in the world.
That’s why it is important for people who plan to consume magic mushrooms on how to tell if Shrooms are good or not to avoid being poisoned.
Importance of Knowing Psilocybe Mushrooms and How to Tell if Shrooms are Good?
As they are the most popular magic mushrooms known, they can be harvested from either your home or in the wild. Knowing all Psilocybe Mushrooms can help prevent mushroom poisoning.
That’s why it is important to familiarize yourself with different varieties of Magic mushrooms to differentiate which types are safe to use and which aren’t. to help you with this problem, we’ve listed some of the common types of magic mushrooms and their corresponding descriptions. This will help you ensure you enjoy, cherish, and have a reliable trip every time.
Psilocybe Semilanceata
Known to be one of the most potent Psilocybin mushrooms, the Psilocybe Semilanceata is also known as “Liberty Caps” because they exude larger caps than most species of Psilocybe. They are frequently found throughout Europe and parts of North America. Their caps are formed like a bell or cone-like formation. This type of mushrooms tends to grow on pastures and meadows. Unlike their fellow genus, Psilocybe Cubensis, they don’t grow on dung.
Psilocybe Mexicana
This type of mushroom can be found in parts of Central and South America, where they have been used by Indigenous people and tribes way back thousands of years. Psilocybe Mexicana has a very similar structure to Semilanceata. They have larger caps and have cone-like or bell-like caps that are around 10 to 20mm.
They are usually light in color, beige or light brown. Psilocybe Mexicana can raise in solitary or in clusters. It likes to protrude among moss on pavements and trails, moist fields, or the grassy zones of the forests. These mushrooms are typically found at heights between 310–550 meters around May to October
Psilocybe Cyanescens
This type of mushroom is commonly found in North America, Central Europe, New Zealand, and part of the Middle east. Cyanescens or commonly known as “Wavy Caps”. Unlike Mexicana and Semilanceata, their caps don’t form like a cone or bell, instead, they are like waves that get wider as they mature.
When they are moist, they tend to exude caramel or chestnut-like colors. Once they dry out, the colors fade paler and paler until it is slightly yellowing where they are totally dry. One common characteristic of this mushroom is they tend to exhibit blue stains when parts of their body are touched or injured. Cyanescens tends to dwell among wood chips and especially among the mulched areas of plant beds in urban areas.
Psilocybe Cubensis
By far, the most popular type of magic mushrooms. They are commonly called as “Golden Teacher” mushrooms. They are commonly found in parts of Southeast Asia, Central America, the Northernmost part of South America, and the southeastern part of the United States.
Golden teachers have large caps that is around 25mm to 80mm in diameter. The caps of this mushroom tend to be conic during the early parts of their lives and once they mature and grow old, the caps widen and flattens. They have distinct color features such as cinnamon-like and quite reddish. Underneath their caps is their gills that turn to gray and darkens with age. Most mature golden teachers have almost black gills in them.
Psilocybe Azurescens
Commonly known as the “flying saucer mushrooms”, Psilocybe Azurescens is one of the most potent species of magic mushrooms. It is believed that this specie of magic mushrooms grows naturally along the west coast of the United States. As their name suggests, they exhibit flying saucer-like caps that range around 30mm to 110mm in diameter.
Same with Cubensis, while young they have cone-like caps that tend to widen and flatten as they mature. Just like Cyanescens, they tend to exhibit chestnut or caramel-like colors when they are moist and blackish hues. The edges of the Azurescens caps have slight grooves in them that correspond to their gills. Touched or bruised areas of the mushroom tend to dark quickly. This specie of Psilocybe loves coastal areas and wood chips, and are generally found in sandy soils and dune grasses.
Psilocybe Baeocystis
Psilocybe Baeocystis has a lot of names to show for. From “bottled caps”, “bluebells”, “knobby tops”, and “olive caps”. Psilocybe Baeocystis is commonly found in parts of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This specie of Magic mushrooms has a medium-sized cap that usually ranges around 15 to 55mm in diameter. The caps are usually cone-like and are typically thin and rippled due to their gills underneath the caps.
Psilocybe Baeocystis has a pretty unique color, it usually showcases, dark, olive-brown hue, and often exudes blue tinges. The stems are quite long and lanky that are often chalk-white in appearance. This type of mushroom bruises easily and usually stains blue as well. They often grow in mulches, wood chips, under lawns too.
Be Extra Careful with Mushrooms!
That is why it is important to have an idea on how to tell if Shrooms are good to avoid mushroom poisoning. The only way to get away with mushroom poisoning is to familiarize the basic magic mushrooms that are typically consumed, and that is the genus of Psilocybe.
Do not pick or consume mushrooms unless you have identified the mushroom. If you aren’t sure with your mushroom, don’t consume it yet and seek the advice of an expert. Also, when handling mushrooms, do not make hand to mouth gestures as your hand may pass on harmful toxins to your mouth and that spells disaster for you.
Conclusion
How to tell if Shrooms are good would determine if you are to enjoy a safe and psychoactive trip rather than an ambulance trip on your way to the hospital. Always remember that there are only a few species of Magic mushrooms that are safe and ready to be consumed. When you are unsure of your mushroom, it would be wise to seek an expert’s advice.
