Although small and sometimes elusive, these shrooms pack a punch — producing waves of intense euphoria and vivid closed and open-eye visuals. The latin name of “semi-lanceata” literally translates to “somewhat-spear-shaped”, which quite accurately describes its shape. It has a conical or bell-shaped cap that frequently has a protruding tip known as a papilla. The spear reference is furthered with the base of young caps being rolled inwards toward the stipe.
This is one of my, and many others, favorite mushroom species to observe. They look amazing and can vary significantly from one another, giving every cap its own personality in a way. Although it can be found growing in parts of North America and Canada, it’s unlikely that it grew naturally there before the first European settlers. It’s believed that this species was brought over when the European settlers and their agriculture became established in the countries. A microdose is defined as a sub-perceptual dose of a psychoactive substance.
Psilocybe semilanceata (Fr.) P. Kumm. – Magic Mushroom or Liberty Cap
A Liberty Cap that isn’t carrying much water will have a creamy-white cap with a darker ring around the base of the cap. A Liberty Cap holding water will look far darker in color and take on a sticky residue. You’ll still see a darker ring around the circumference of the cap’s base, but it’ll be less apparent to the eye. Contrary to what many people say, this shroom doesn’t grow in livestock manure as Psilocybe cubensis often does. However, it’s regularly found growing in fields psilocybe semilanceata habitat that cattle or sheep have grazed — this may be where the misconception came from. Double-check the potency of the DXM you’re using, and look for the addition of other compounds such as acetaminophen which can cause severe liver-toxic side-effects at this dose.
The same species can be picked in Northern Sweden as in Southern England. Remarkably, many people report that Psilocybe semilanceata shrooms picked in Northern Europe are far more potent than those picked in the south. They prepared a meal to eat for breakfast with the mushrooms they had gathered. Shortly after eating their meal, the father and children of the family unsurprisingly started to feel strange. They had symptoms that closely resembled those produced by psilocybin.
The spores are dark purplish-brown en masse, ellipsoid in shape, and measure 10.5–15 by 6.5–8.5 micrometres. The psychoactive properties of liberty cap mushrooms are primarily attributed to the presence of psilocybin and psilocin. This leads to changed states, better sensory perception, and deep introspective experiences. In conclusion, liberty cap mushrooms, specifically Psilocybe semilanceata, represent a unique intersection of natural history, cultural significance, and personal exploration. By learning more about their identification, info about growing liberty caps, and effects, people can better appreciate these amazing fungi.
The Biology and Mycology of Liberty Cap
Nine patients were administered psilocybin in a controlled clinical environment. Do not taste Psilocybe semilanceata because it is hallucinogenic, and some people have required hospital treatment after eating this species. 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 gills turn from grey to purplish-brown with age as spores are released. The gills slope upwards and only attach to the stem right at the top (the attachment is adnexed). To date our best guides on this question have been veteran liberty cap hunters whose insights can be found scattered across obscure corners of the web.
- Psilocybe semilanceata can be found growing naturally in autumn time.
- In many places, psilocybin is classified alongside substances such as cocaine and heroin, which means possessing them carries the same penalties.
- While it has many characteristic traits, it is frequently confused for other members of Psilocybe and more commonly some toxic members of other genera.
- Luckily, you don’t need a dehydrator for this shroom, and it’s possible to produce bone-dry caps in less than two days.
Psychoactive Compounds and Effects:
The stems of Panaeolusspecies are often brittle and will snap easily when bending. In the first two examples below, the caps are dry yet still dark in colour. In the second two examples, the caps are more rounded than pointy and lack distinctive nipples. You can use this colour-shifting behaviour to help identify similar-looking mushrooms; a wet liberty cap should not be light, and a dry one should not be dark.
Spores of Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybin (and other serotonin 2A agonists) – classic psychedelics have been used for centuries within indigenous cultures; typically, within a sacramental context. For Indians Psilocybe semilanceata is known as a sacred mushroom; historically, it is considered that it can project them on a religious path to the spirit world. Despite being illegal in many countries, there have been a number of studies looking at the medicinal benefits of this fungus.
The Psilocybe semilanceata contains a toxin called psilocybin, responsible for the hallucinative properties. This can also cause vomiting, stomach pains and anxiety attacks. In addition, tachycardia, increased blood pressure and heart attacks have also been reported.
However, they can often be found in the south, providing the conditions are suitable for growth. If you find one growing next to a grassy tuft, split the blades of grass — you may find more hiding underneath. It’s also a good idea to stop when you find one and scan the area around you. Nine times out of ten, you’ll spot another group in the vicinity. This knowledge led hippies, university students, and other mushroom-seekers to head out into the grasslands of the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and the United States in search of the humble Liberty Cap.
With a deep interest in their therapeutic potential and profound effects on the human mind, I aim to provide accurate and evidence-based information about shrooms in the Canadian context. Before we dive into the specifics of different psilocybin mushroom species, let’s briefly discuss what the psilocybin experience entails. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, primarily in the Psilocybe genus. When ingested, psilocybin is converted into psilocin, which interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered perception, heightened sensory experiences, and often profound insights. It is considered a highly potent species which maintains its strength even after drying. Along with its nearly worldwide growth in the Northern Hemisphere, rarely found in the Southern Hemisphere, P. semilanceata is a common and popular mushroom.
- All Psilocybe species are saprotrophs meaning that they obtain nutrients by breaking down organic matter (as opposed to establishing symbiotic or parasitic relationships with other organisms).
- While the specific compounds are unknown as of yet, extracts of P. semilanceata have shown promising results in the suppression of MRSA, a deadly bacteria frequently found in hospitals.
- Do not taste Psilocybe semilanceata because it is hallucinogenic, and some people have required hospital treatment after eating this species.
- They have dark brown gills and light brown, thin stems that can be surprisingly long, propelling the small cap up above the grass line in the habit in which they grow.
- It’s believed that this species was brought over when the European settlers and their agriculture became established in the countries.
The edges have translucent striations when wet; the entire cap will be sticky to the touch with a separable, jelly-like pellicle. This poisonous saprobic grassland mushroom is most often found on upland pastures, notably on hill slopes. Although sometimes seen on lawns and in lowland meadows it does not grow on dung. We’re confident the locations on our map are the best place to start if you don’t already know of any spots in your area (we use them ourselves!). However, there is a degree of uncertainty involved and we cannot guarantee that liberty caps are present at every single location.
An example of this are the pre-Columbian Spanish-American civilizations such as the Mayan and the Aztec, the latter called these mushrooms “flesh of gods.” The Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann was the first to isolate psilocybin, in 1957. This chemist was the same chemist who first synthesized lysergic acid diethyl amide (LSD). To isolate the compound, Hoffman used fungi of the species Psilocybe mexicana.
If the non-bluing, non-hallucinogenic species in the study were to be segregated, it would have left the hallucinogenic clade without a valid name. To resolve this dilemma, several mycologists proposed in a 2005 publication to conserve the name Psilocybe, with P. semilanceata as the type. Further, the name P. semilanceata had historically been accepted as the lectotype by many authors in the period 1938–68. The proposal to conserve the name Psilocybe, with P. semilanceata as the type was accepted unanimously by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi in 2009. While its difficulty in home cultivation may make these mushrooms rare outside of wild finds, it is nonetheless a popular and well-known species. Identification may prove a challenge, but most twins of this species have psychoactive activity regardless.
People from all over the world were traveling to visit Maria Sabina to have a mystical experience with psilocybin. During the 1960s, people realized the potential psychedelic effects of the Liberty Cap mushroom. Of course, its hallucinogenic qualities were known before this, but until the 60s, the wider public didn’t know about this small psychedelic field mushroom. When ingested, Liberty Caps can produce strong psychedelic effects. Few of these mushrooms are needed to experience a strong psilocybin-induced psychedelic trip.
Since psilocybin is the active psychoactive compound in the Liberty Cap mushroom, they are illegal to possess, consume, and sell. Alternatively, you can create capsules, tea, and a range of other things. The best way to store these Liberty Caps mushrooms long-term is to dry them. Luckily, you don’t need a dehydrator for this shroom, and it’s possible to produce bone-dry caps in less than two days.