Panaeolus

Such alkaloids can be found particularly in the Myristicaceae, Malpighiaceae, Rutaceae, Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, Loganiaceae, and Convolvulaceae. Such compounds are also found in mushrooms from the genera Conocybe, Panaeolus, Psilocybe, and Stropharia (Agaricaceae), which where used by the Aztecs of pre-Columbian America for their psilocin. 

Psilocybe Conocybe silineoides Panaeolus sphinctrinus Psilocybe aztecorum P. caerulescans P. mexicana Stropharia cubensis Fungus Psilocin, psilocybin... 

There are several related species of mushrooms that have hallucinogenic effects. Many are in the psilocybe genus, including Psilocybe aztecorum, P. caerulescans, and P. mexicana (Schultes and Hofman 1980, 1992). Other related species include Stropharia cubensis, Panaeolus sphinctrinus, and P. foenisecii (see table 9.1 and figure 9.3). 

Magic mushrooms belong to the genus Psilocybe, and include Psilocybe mexicana and hougshagenii, traditionally considered to be most important, and also Stropharia cubensis and Panaeolus sphinctrinus. These contain psilocybine and psilocine which mimic the action of serotonin. The Mazatec shaman, Maria Sabina, described the effects of the mushrooms as follows This is a world beyond ours, a world that is far away, nearby and invisible. And this is where God lives, where the dead live, the spirits and the saints, a world where... 

Dr. David Linder, Harvard mycologist, confirmed another as Panaeolus campanulatus L. var. sphinctinus (Fr.) Bresad. Some time later the third species was identified at Harvard by Dr. Rolf Singer as Stropharia cubensis Earle,ll but he did not disclose his discovery, not even to Schultes, until many years later when it was too late to serve a purpose. 

While we are on the subject of botanical identities, we might mention the later work of Singer and Guzman, who in 1957 found several additional species of Psilocybe used. As noted before, Wasson disputes Puharich s assertion that Amanita muscaria is used at all by the Mexicans. It will be recalled that Panaeolus sphinctrinus was identified as one of the teonanacatl mushrooms by Schultes in 1938. Hallucinogenic activity was reported for a related species, Panaeolus papilionaceous, found in Oxford County, Maine. A note in Science reported that unsuspecting ingestion of this mushroom by two persons resulted in visual and hallucinatory effects comparable to hashish, opium, and "mescal." The mushroom was said to be "common on cultivated land."20 More... 

Spore Prints and Preparation, 248 Stropharia (Psilocybe) cubensis (San Isidro), 250 Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty Caps), 253 Panaeolus subbalteatus (benanosis), 256 Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy Caps, Blue Halos), 257 Psilocybe baeocystis, 258 Pilocybe stuntzii, 260... 

Dr. Reko, in turn, forwarded these samples to Dr. CarlGustaf Santesson in Stockholm for chemical analysis and to the Farlow Herbarium at Harvard University for botanical examination. Reko s mailing arrived at Harvard in such rotted condition that the mushrooms were identified only as to genus Panaeolus)—and perhaps incorrectly so. 

The next year Schultes began studies with Dr. Reko in northeastern Oaxaca among the Mazatec Indians. Soon the two heard reports about the existence of mushroom rites in and near the Oaxacan town of Huautla de Jimdnez. They collected specimens of Panaeolus sphinctrinus, which was alleged to be the mushroom chiefly used in the rites. They also collected specimens of Stropharia (or Psilocybe) cubensis, a mushroom of lesser importance according to the native Mazatecs. These specimens remained in the herbarium at Harvard. 

Panaeolus subbalteatus has a long shelf life and contains no psilocin the psychoactivity comes only from psilocybin and its analogues. The amounts are low to moderate for psilocybin, varying from a little over 1.5 mg./gm. up to 6.0 mg./gm. dry weight. 

Panaeolus subbaltearus, a species seen commonly throughout North America and many parts of the world, contains low to moderate amounts of psilocybin. It is among the few psilocybian mushrooms that fruit in the spring. 

Pollock, Steven H. 1974. A novel experience with Panaeolus A case study from Hawaii. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs 6 (l) 85-89. 

Psilocybian mycetismus with special reference to Panaeolus. 

Psilocybin mushrooms from tKe genera Psilocybe and Panaeolus are fairly safe to identify, in that there are no known poisonous species... 

Pameolus subbalteatus Mycology and Myths about the Panaeolus Species... 

Figure 3 - Water color painting o/Panaeolus subbalteatus (Germany, 1927). 

A few years later, renowned Swedish mycologist E. Fries referred to "Agaricus semilanceatus" in his book entitled "Obser-vationes Mycologicae" (1818). Later on, the same mushroom also appeared under the names Coprinarius semilanceatus Fr. or Panaeolus semilanceatus (Fr.) Lge. Not until 1870 did Kummer and Quelet classify this mushroom as a member of the genus Psilocybe. Consequently, two valid designations may be found in the literature ... 

When the weather is dry, Psilocybe semilanceata is an easily recognizable species. The fruiting bodies are extremely hygrophanous, which is why the color of the caps changes to a dark olive black-brown when the mushrooms are wet. Only a close inspection of the gills and the crooked stems enabled us to differentiate the wet mushrooms from the Panaeolus species (see Chapter 3.3). Like many other psychotropic mushroom species, a crucial characteristic of... 

A typical hallucinogenic experience blamed on the accidental ingestion of Panaeolus papilionaceus (Bull. Fr.) Quel, occurred in Maine, USA, in 1914. 

During the winter of 1915, a species of Panaeolus spontaneously appeared in a mushroom greenhouse in New York. These fhiiting bodies were accidentally eaten together with the champignons that were cultivated there. This error led to cases of intoxications so remarkable that Murrill described the mushroom as Panaeolus venenosus. Some time passed before it was discovered that this species had previously been described as Agaricus... 

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