Workman

Ah, excellent find. I am glad I checked in today. Obviously an active woodloving Psilocybe species of some sort but species from Greece are not well documented. It could be something undescribed. I would love to do a microscopic examination, which only requires a few dried gills discretely mailed in a letter. I can then put together a microscopy composite such as the examples below which can then be compared to species described in the literature. New Zealand undescribed Psilocybe specimen Georgia, USA, Psilocybe atlantis Check PM

Panaeolus taxonomy is a mess. I've been trying to sort it out and can confirm Teonan's findings on the massive variability. The Copelandia are oversplit, but it does appear that there are at least a few valid species. I can readily differentiate Panaeolus cyanescens from P. cambodginiensis/tropicalis. I have yet to find a convincing tropicalis so its probably rare or doesn't exist as a distinct species. I have examined a sample of P. bisporus which does have two-spored basidia. Here is a summary gleaned from several sources and my own experiences: Panaeolus cyanescens: The most common (in the wild) species, pallid pins or only slightly pigmented that soon fade with maturity, large spores (majority over 12 microns). Panaeolus cambodginiensis: The second most common species, very dark chocolate to olive pins, small spores (majority under 12 microns), sometimes produces sclerotia-like bodies. This species seems to be overly represented in circulated strains compared to purely wild collections. Panaeolus tropicalis: rare, pallid pins, small spores (like P. cambodginiensis). This is the most confused documented species. Stamets (1996) indicates that it is an exclusively two spored species (two spores per basidium) which is incorrect according to all other sources. Gerhardt's (1996) key to the Copelandia implies that it’s a darkly pigmented species which conflicts with the actual description in the same document (which is based on Ola’h’s (1969) original description). Ola’h (1969) gives great importance to the internally granulated transparent spores of P. tropicalis, but Gerhardt’s (1996) examination of Ola’h’s herbarium deposits notes only opaque spores. Gerhardt instead gives importance to the form of the pleurocystidia, which are distinctly cone-shaped compared to other Copelandia. I can offer microscopy to confirm the identity of species if needed.

Oh man, that list is so old. I didn't think it was even still online. And, as far as I can tell, P. australiana and subaeruginosa are the same. I am sure many of the Panaeolus in that list are misidentified as well. I am working on a more accurate gallery with microscopic features included.

Thanks! I should be adding some new Australian collections to my microscopy gallery in the near future. It should be interesting to see if there are some new species in the mix.

Maybe they were old stock. Did the prints have a date?

I don't have any direct information on potency but I've been told that the potency is high, for whatever that is worth.

Thanks for the warm welcome. There isn't much information on Psilocybe subaeruginascens other than it is a temperate to subtropical species normally found in southern Japan. It was probably accidently introduced by travelers from these areas, but there is no way to know for sure. At any rate it seems to like the southern California climate and appears to be spreading. It is closely related to P. ovoideocystidiata which is a recently described species from the Eastern USA that is apparently becoming very common and is also related to P. stuntzii (which I haven't worked up a sample yet for the gallery). I can offer identification services for species of bluing psilocybe and panaeolus if provided with a few dried gills in a letter envelope, a clear photo and a brief description of the location and habitat. I have a bit of a backlog right now but I get around to all samples eventually. It is suprising what can be gleaned with a microscopic examination. I was stunned when I first looked at the Psilocybe subaeruginascens samples under the microscope expecting to see another species in the Cyanescens section. I am really getting fried trying to figure out recent Mexican collections in the Zapotecorum section. There are probably many undescribed species in this section. I put together a document in my journal at the Shroomery to help me get a handle on the 20 described species in the Zapotecorum if anyone is interested. What happened to blue meanie? He sent me some samples quite awhile ago before I had a proper microscope with camera. I still need to work those up for him.

Hi all, my first post here. The mushrooms pictured are almost certainly the California form of Psilocybe subaeruginascens. I have examined three collections of these from the Bay Area. They are often mistaken for a ringed P. azurescens which it is not closely related. http://www.sporeworksgallery.com/Stuntzae/...CA_specimen_001 The mushroom mentioned in Stamets' "Mycelium Running" is actually this other unrelated species and appears to be undescribed. Often called the "Cyclone Psilocybe" due to a swirling effect of the mycelium on agar in a petri dish but this effect is rarely seen (I haven't seen it and Stamets admits it isn't always present). http://www.sporeworksgallery.com/Section-C...anofib_complete Both are likely recent introductions with the Cyclone becoming very common and in many cases displacing its close relative, Psilocybe cyanescens. My microscopy gallery is sorted into Sections to show how the species are thought to be related. I hope the links are not considered spam as that is not the intent.