428 lines
24 KiB
Plaintext
428 lines
24 KiB
Plaintext
From: Data Storm <HARPETH1@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu>
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Newsgroups: alt.drugs
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Subject: 'Shroom picking guide! It's here!
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Date: 2 Jun 1994 16:41:00 GMT
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Message-ID: <2sl22s$jru@agate.berkeley.edu>
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FIELD GUIDE TO THE PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOM -=- Species common to North America
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-Psilocybe cubensis
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-Panaeolus subbalteatus
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-Psilocybe caerulescens
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This is a complete re-typing of the book, FIELD GUIDE TO THE PSILOCYBIN
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MUSHROOM written by F.C.Ghouled published by Guidance Publications PO Box
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15667 New Orleans, Louisiana 70175 in 1972. I found it while perusing an
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ex-hippie-family-member's books. I sincerly doubt that more than a handful of
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copies were ever sold and finding one in a bookstore nowadays is almost an
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impossibility. I don't own a powerful enough computer to reproduce the four
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full color pictures in the book. However, the descriptions of the mushrooms
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are precise and leave no margin for error. Pictures of the mushrooms can be
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found in general mushroom field guides, some of which are listed at the end
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of this file. The three species here ARE pictured in The Audubon Society
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Field Guide to North American Mushrooms which can be found at most bookstores
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and libraries. When searching for a visual reference, be sure to find one
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that pictures all four of the STAGES of the mushrooms, notably Ps. cubensis,
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as each stage of the mushroom's growth alters its outward appearance somewhat.
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-=- INTRODUCTION -=-
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All psilocybin mushrooms contain the same two desired alkaloids,
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psilocybin ans psilocin, although they do occur in varying amounts with each
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species. Hence, the experiance gained from species will be essentailly the
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same as an experience gained from another species. Some variation will be
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noted with usage of some of the rarer varieties, but again, the effects will
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be essentially the same. Over 16 species of psilocybin mushrooms exist --
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only a few are common. One would have to spend many hours in study and
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searching the fields to locate and catalogue them all. Only the most common
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species need be studied and indentified by the person interested in the
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consumption of the mushroom.
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The reader has a simple task to preform in order to locate the most
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common psilocybin mushroom. He must search cow pastures after rain storms
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during those months in which the temperature is between 65 to 85 degress
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Fahrenheit. Only those specimens which occur on manure, turn blue when damaged
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and have a hollow stem need be considered. There is no chance for error.
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The reader is referred to the article by Wasson listed in the
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bibliography and to a good library to read about alkaloids. These articles
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will enhance your cultural and chemical understanding of the mushroom. Good
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hunting.
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-=- CAUTION -=-
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Psilocybin mushrooms are against the law. In Louisiana: possession is a
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felony. The law-enforcement agencies in some areas are alert to the 'threat'
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of a plentiful and naturally-occuring (not to mention exotic) psychedelic.
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Consult the Bureau of Dangerous Drugs in your state to find out whether you
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are committing a felony or a misdemeasnor. Avoid registering the stock-
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reaction "hippie" in the natives of the areas explored. Probably the old guise
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of a mycology student will no longer serve.
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-=- THE THREE PSILOCYBIN SPECIES COMMON TO THE SOUTH -=-
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Of the fifteen domestic species known to contain psilocybin, at least
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three are found commonly in the southern United States, from California to
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Lousiana and South Carolina to Florida. One of these, the Ps. cubensis and
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Panaeolus subbalteatus will be found in the same area as they all grow on
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manure. The Amanita muscaria (Mexico's 'magic' mushroom) a psilocybin
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mushroom, is also noted below, because it is sometimes found in the woodland
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areas of the U.S. South. A reference is made in the bibliography to a fine
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article on the mushroom-cult of Mexico.
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-=- SETTING OUT MUSHROOM HUNTING -=-
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Your first trip need not be elaborate. The author has found an ample
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supply of Ps. cubensis growing within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans. For
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your first trip, it may be best to select a site close to home. You can
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increase your range after you have learned to identify them. The psilocybin
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mushrooms described in this guide, like many mushrooms, may be found in
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greatest quantity in a well-drained or sloped area.
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The Ps. cubensis and Panaeolus subbalteatus grow only on cow, horse, pig,
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sheep or even goat manure (all grass or grain fed animals) or soil that has
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been enriched with manure. They grow most commonly on cow manure. The Ps.
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caerulescens grow on stream or river banks. All species grow at temperatures
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between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer a well-drained site because
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the immature mycellium is damaged by an excess of water. The mature mycellium,
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however, demands a large quantity of water for maximum production. The
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mycellium is the stage of the fungus that produces the mushroom. It is
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germinated from the spores and grows, permeating the soil or manure. It looks
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like a moldish web-like growth and maay take from 6 to 12 weeks to longer to
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mature.
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The mushroom, the actual fruit, is grown under the soild and with time
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and proper moisture pops up and appears to grow extremely fast. In the case of
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the Ps. cubensis, the fruit matures in 24 hours. Therefore, check the weather
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reports for frontal systems bringing cool air and rain. These conditions,
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especially in late spring and early fall (but not during the hot summer
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months) are excellent for mushroom growth. Less psilocybin is produced during
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hot weather. Even if you do get a good rain during a long hot spell, the poor
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quality of the few specimens you might find makes them harly worth taking.
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Also, an excess of that other vital ingredient, water, will cause the
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mycellium to rot. The mycellium can handle a few inches of rain on one day and
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even a few inches a day for several days, but over a prolonged period of time
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it will die back and become sickly. The warm dry summer promotes the growth of
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the mycellium, and a cool, moist fall will bring forth the mushrooms in
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plentiful numbers. The sun quickly causes those mushrooms left growing in the
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field to age and rot because they are over 90% water.
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If picked freshly, however, the mushroom will retain its potency for
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years, provided they are not sealed in an air-tight container, which causes
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them to rot in thier own residual water content. The air-dried shrivelled
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mushrooms may be stored for future delectation.
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-=- A WARNING -=-
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It is well known that a few species of the non-psilocybin mushrooms are
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dangerously poisionous. Ingestion will cause the body to flush itself through
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the bowels and by vomiting, with extreme cramps varying from mild to severe
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discomfort to death. For this reason, not even a tiny piece of any mushroom
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collected by the beginner should be eaten in the field. First compare the
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fresh mushrooms to the descriptions and photographs herein. The descriptions
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are calculated to be exhaustive; even so, when you are certain that you have
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a specimen of one of the described species, refrain from eating or smoking
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more than a tiny bite.
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The person sensitive to other drugs, such as grass or LSD, will be able
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tell whether the desired substance is present; a person not so sensitive will
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still feel something. You will also be able to determine whether the species
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you have collected (be it not psilocybin) is poisonous or not. Six of the
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eight alkaloids present in the chemical structure of the psilocybin mushroom
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are toxic (the two other are psilocybin and psilocin). From this mild
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toxicity, a slight queasiness of the stomach may resulty. Also, even if the
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beginner has happened on a genuine psilocybin mushroom, the eating of it in
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the field may result in lack of interest in the further work of collecting,
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with the consequent loss of many pounds of muchrooms which he might otherwise
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have collected and dried.
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The famed 'magic' mushroom of Mexico, the Amanita muscaria, causes
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intense hallucinations and is therefore well sought after, but a word of
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caution is in order. The A. muscaria is a highly toxic mushroom. It contains
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yet more poisonous alkaloids. It should be avoided as ingestion of more than
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a few specimens can cause illness and possibly death. The other common species
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listed in this book are all safe and non-poisonous. The A. muscaria is a red
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ball-shaped mushroom. It is very distinct and bears not the least resemblance
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to any of the three species catalogued in this text.
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-=- IDENTIFICATION PROLOGUE -=-
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All of the psilocybin species described herein may be most conclusively
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identified by an enzyme that occurs with the psilocybin. This enzyme turns
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blue thru an oxidation process after the flesh of the mushroom is damaged.
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Crack the stem to check for the reaction, which takes from 20 to 120 minutes
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to occur. The blue is similar to blue ink, unless the flesh of the mushroom is
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yellowish, in which case the color will appear blue-green. All psilocybin
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mushrooms (with the exception of one uncommon species that is not covered in
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this manual) turn blue in this manner. A few chemicals will speed up the
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oxidation/bluing process but are not readily available. Because these
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chemicals are unstable and are difficult to work with, to hassle with them in
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the field, for most people, is not worth the trouble.
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This natural bluing-reaction noted in the psilocybin species is also
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noted in one other non-psychedelic genus. To even the least observant person
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the difference in physical appearance is extremely obvious. The non-psilocybin
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mushrooms that turn blue are: large, bulbous and usually very smooth. This
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fat cap cannot be confused with the psilocybin cap. The cap and stem will be
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yellow or yellow-brownish evenly over the entire surface. With age, the
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specimens of this genus may be noted to turn blue on parts of the stem. The
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underside of the cap has pores instead of gills. These pores, appearing as an
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organic sponge, will be of the same color-range. The stem is proportioned like
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the cap and is quite solid and fleshy. These species do not occur on dung but
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may be located in pastures and lawns after rains.
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-PSILOCYBE CUBENSIS-
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The CAP is 1/2 inch to 4 inches wide. For the first few hours
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cone-shaped, quickly becomes convex, then flat and finally edges uplift,
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forming a bowl-shaped cap in the mature mushroom (age 24-48 hours after the
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rain). The bowl-shaped cap will have an umbo or may become a depression. A
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sticky protective film will be observed over the entire cap in fresh
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specimens. The color varies widely, from an almost pure white with a gold
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center-spot to an overall light-brown still retaining the gold center-spot.
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This species becomes translucent when it has absorbed excess water. At this
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time the cap (except for the center spot) will appear a dark-olive which is
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actually the dark spore color showing through. Both the water-soaked and
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normal specimens will dry to a yellow-rust color still retaining the
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orange-to-gold center spot.
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The GILLS are rather closely spaceed and are light-brown in the young
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stages, becoming a deep purple or black with maturity. In early stages the
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gills will be connected to the stem but may separate with age.
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The STEM will be from 1.5 inches to almost 6 inches tall and up to 1/2
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inch thick. The stem base (volva) is many times, although not always,
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thickened. The stem will be hollow, fibrous and generally white or at least a
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lighter color than the cap. There will usually be a ring of tissue hanging on
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the upper portion of the stem (the veil) which usually turns blue with age.
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The inside flesh of the broken stem will usually yield the fastest bluing-
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reaction.
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The FLESH of this species is white, has little odor and tastes like fresh
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grain. It is usually located on cow-manure (although it is located on the
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manure of other grain-fed animals as well) or on soil that has been enriched
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with such manure.
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-PANNAEOLUS SUBBALTEATUS-
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The CAP in young specimens will appear bluntly cone-shaped with an
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incurved margin. As maturity is reached the cap will expand but the incurved
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margin will usually still be observed. The color of the cap is light-cinnamon
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and is uniform and will be covered by a small white flecks in the younger
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stages. With age the center of the cap will become lighter or darker thus
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forming a distinctive ring that is the margin coloration. In younger specimens
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the veil will be off-white, never bluing, and will hang downward from the
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closed (cone-shaped) cap. The veil will disappear as the cap expands wil age.
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The GILLS will usually be very closely spaced and in young specimens will
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be very light-brown. This color will become black as the specimen matures.
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The STEM will be from 1.5 inches to almost 4 inches high and never over
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1/2 inch thick. The stem will be very uniform and evenly shaped. The top of
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the stem will be vertically grooved and the lower portion of the stem will be
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covered with a mat of hairlike scales and fine white powder. The stem color
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will usually be white but a tint of sepia of light-cinnamon may be noted. The
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stem is hollow. The bluing-reaction is noted best in the stem of this species.
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The FLESH of this species will be white to yellowish. It has a taste and
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odor that is like that of fine table-mushrooms purchased at the store.
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This species has been collected by our team (on cow-dung) while
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harvesting the Ps. cubensis. These notes have been placed in this book so that
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you will not throw away this species when it occurs with the Ps. cubensis. It
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is not extremely common (for every 25 Ps. cubensis collected you may find as
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many as 3 this species [12% as common]) and will be discovered only
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occasionally. This species matures slowly so that it will rarely be seen in
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older stages if it is discovered while harvesting the Ps. cubEn7Zs.
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-PSILOCYBE CAERULESCENS-
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The CAP of this species measures from 1 inch to over 3 inches wide and
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is cone-shaped when young, gradually expanding to the traditional
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convex-to-flat shape of the mature specimen. The margin will exhibit a
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downward curve. The surface of the cap is smooth and sticky, particularly in
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the young specimen. This species is translucent when moist and the dark lines
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of the gills will be obvious at these times. In mature specimens the margin of
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the cap will be either lighter or darker than the center of the cap appearing
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as a ring. In young specimens the color will be a deep green to black that
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will fade with age. The separation of the center and the opposite colored
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margin of the cap is irregularly shaped. In mature specimens the faded color
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may be from a cinnamon to rust but often times it will retain the faded
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olive-green color.
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The GILLS will be closely spaced, wide and light-cinnamon to light-brown
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color and will become dark brown to black with age. The edges of the gills
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will be a lighter color.
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The STEM of this species will range from 1.5 inches to 4 inches tall and
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will be up to 1/2 inch thick depending on the size of the specimen. It is
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usually very even, hollow and smooth and the top with thick fibrous hairs
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balling up the rest of the way to the even base of the stem. The veil usually
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falls away very early in the life of the mushroom and the stem is fibrous and
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tough.
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The FLESH of this species is off-white to yellowish occasionally with
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tints of light brown in the cap. It has a strong grain-like odor and turns
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blue, particularly after being handled.
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This species occurs on the banks of streams and rivers and has been
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located thoughout the entire southern U.S.
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-=- TAKING THE MUSHROOM -=-
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The psilocybin can be extracted by drying the specimens collected and
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grinding them into a powder. They are then soaked in methyl alcohol for
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several days. THe alcohol is then strained off and evaporated in a shallow
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dish. The residue should be scraped up and stored at a cool temperature. It
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can be further refined by repeating the same process with the residue obtained
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from the first process. Pentane, a more specialized solvent, is used for the
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refining process. Before ingesting this extraction, be sure that all of the
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solvent has been evaporated off and pay close attention to the potentcy.
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I prefer to consume the cap (without preparation) as an organic creation.
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The mushroom produces a very comfortable high with extreme dilation of the
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pupils. Strong light should be avoided. The dried caps are better than the
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so-called 'organic' pills. The experience ranges from a grass-like high with
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similar physical feelings to strange electric pulsations and stong to mild
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body rushes. At its best (with a large enough dosage) intense hallucinations
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will be experienced. The color photographs in this book were taken on a cloudy
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day near New Orleans. The species have been collected everywhere, from
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northern California to souther Florida. With the climatic conditions described
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above, you can be sure the Ps. cubensis will be located in quantity following
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a rainy day. The others will be there as well. They grow everywhere.
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Dosage:
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4 to 6 mushrooms. The active alkaloids are psilocybin and psilocin. Each
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dry gram of mushroom will contain about 2mg of the desired alkaloids. The stem
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will contain the same amount of the drug as the cap. The Indians of Mexico
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regularly eat 30 to 40 of the Ps. cubensis (or in Mexico, also the
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Ps. Mexicana), per ceremony. They extinguish all of the lights and have
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detailed and colorful visions until dawn. Increasing the dosage will act to
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intensify the experience rather than prolong it (see bibliography). No
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realistic figures on the concentration of the desired alkaloids can be stated
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as this factor varies considerably.
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-=- CULTIVATION -=-
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Mushrooms require a special compost. By far the most common is the
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manure compost manufactured from horse manure, wheat-straw and added chemicals
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to provide the best growing medium. It is manufactured by piling the materials
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together, having soaked the wheat-straw well in water. The ingredients begin
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to decompose, generating their own heat up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit and
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killing any spores, insect or their larva and molds growing in the medium. As
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it heats up, the straw breaks into short pieces and the manure crumbles. The
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entire pile then loses its smell and takes on the odor characteristic of the
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woods in autumn. The compost should ball when squeezed in the hand but no
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excess water should be observed. It should not be compact-looking as the straw
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serves to aerate it besides adding valuable minerals and nutrients. Several
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good books are available on composting (see bibliography). And a book from
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our company on the culturing of the Ps. cubensis in your home for fun and
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profit is to be started shortly. The Ps. cubensis is extremely easy to raise
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and grows in large quantity. Our upcoming text will enable you to set up a
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perpetual compost-box that will produce many pounds a month of this species.
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The prepared compost must then be inoculated with some stage of the
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mushroom's life-cycle. This is usually done by composting horse-manure alone
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that has been enriched with malt-extract sugar. When this mixture has been
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shredded, composted and packed loosely into a wide-mouth jars, it is
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inoculated with parts of a fresh cap of the variety and strain preferred by
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the experimenter. The mycellium will then be observed to run, growing all
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through the manure. When it has completely permeated the compost the bulk is
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removed from the jar and dried. Small chunks of this spawn (as it is called)
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are inserted into the compost at regular intervals. They will beging to grow,
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and after a number of weeks will completely dominate the prepared
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mushroom-bed. The bed is then covered with a 1-inch layer of sterilized soil
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or acceptable substitute, and watered lightly now and again. The compost
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MUST NOT be flooded with water. This will kill the mycellium and ruin the
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compost. The casing will serve to hold all of the moisture that the compost
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will need and prevent the excess from sinkning. The mushrooms will grow
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through the one-inch casing, gaining support from the top layer. The beds
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should be made about 12 inches deep in a container small enough to be handled
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easily. The traditional compost will last for 4 to 6 months with a yield of
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two or more pounds of mushrooms per-square-foot. Our text will outline a newly
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discovered and yet (commercially) unproved method for constructing a perpetual
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bed that will be self-regulating. Cultivation is an alternate to arrest for
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trespassing or a possession-of-psilocybin charge. The above is not sufficient
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for successful cultivation and the reader is referred to the bibliography.
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-=- LAST WORDS -=-
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Becasue the species in this book are so common, there is little need for
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cultivation. Collected specimens can be dried at room temperature in a few
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days. They can be stored for decades with no loss of potency in the least. My
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favorite method for storage is to construct a drying-rack by stringing thread
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across the face of a box and taping it taut. The lower section of the stem is
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then sawed lightly back and forth until the thread has cut half-way through
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the stem. It is then pulled slightly downward and left to dry for several
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days.
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-=- BIBLIOGRAPHY -=-
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FIELDBOOK OF COMMON MUSHROOMS, Thomas, W. Sturgis, New York, Putname, 1948.
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THE MUSHROOM HUNTERS FIELD GUIDE, Smith, Alexander H., Ann Arbor, University
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of Michigan Press.
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MUSHROOM GROWING TODAY, Atkins, F.C., Macmillian and Co., 1967.
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MUSHROOM GROWING FOR EVERYONE, Genders, Roy, London, Faber and Faber, 1969.
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SEEKING THE MAGIC MUSHROOM AMONG MEXICAN INDIANS, Wasson, R.G., Life Magazine,
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May 13, 1957 (pages 100-109).
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ROAD TO ENDSVILLE; Psilocybe Mexicana, Newsweek, February 9, 1959.
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A KEY TO THE AMERICAN PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOM, Enos, Leonard. The Church of One
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Sermon, Lemon Grove, California. This book is out of print. It contained
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water-color drawings rather than color photographs.
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ALICES' ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (Advice from a caterpiller, Chapter 5),
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Carroll, Lewis. Random House.
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When the novice has collected a specimen he should always consider the
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major identification points. This open-format identification sheet may prove
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helpful. Try reproducing it in your notebook to outline each species'
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characteristics.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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1. [Age and condition of specimen.]
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2. [Does it turn blue?]
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3. [CAP]
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Coloration -
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Shape & size -
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Margin (incurved or regular) -
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4. [GILLS]
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Coloration -
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Shape & size -
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Spacing -
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Attachment to stem -
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5. [STEM]
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Coloration -
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Shape and size -
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Base (volva) present ? -
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Hollow or solid? -
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6. [FLESH]
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Coloration -
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Texture -
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Thickness -
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Special color traits -
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Climate and environment:
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7. [Last rain: 24 hrs.? for week?]
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8. [High and low: bye 24 hrs.? for week?]
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9. [What is the fungi growing on?]
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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10. [Name of species?]
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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***
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Well, that about wraps it up. All I ask in return is that anyone else
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with experience please post their findings and advice on the subject.
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Specifically, are any psilocybes growing as far north as Tennessee this
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time of year? If not/so, when do/did they begin growing? Any replies
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are greatly appreciated!
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Thanx,
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DS
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--------
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For information about this Usenet posting service, send mail to
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remailer@soda.berkeley.edu, with Subject: remailer-info.
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Please, don't throw knives.
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