Psilocybe liniformans is a widely distributed but rare species of Psilocybe found in Europe. It can also be distinguished by its smaller spores (measuring 9-13 by 5-7 μm). It is commonly found growing under conifers in the Pacific Northwest in the United States (with a single collection also having been reported from Finland, and also in Norway).
Psychoactive use
While some say it is safer to ingest than processed drugs for a fast feeling of euphoria that can last for hours, the Liberty Cap mushroom can also be dangerous to ingest. The cap became a symbol of power signifying freedom- an expression used by authoritarian leaders to justify their absolute rule. The average psilocybin content is 1.5% by dry weight but can be as high as 3% in some cases. There is the potential for psychotic states and seizures from ingesting Psilocybe semilanceata. Some of the grassland bonnets (Mycena sp.) might look similar with age too, however their striated cap might be a relatively easy giveaway. Like all Psilocybes, P. semilanceata is saprophytic, with their mycelium feeding on decaying grass roots, and is only ever found in association with grasses.
Protostropharia semiglobata grows directly on dung; Psilocybe semilanceata will not be found growing on dung. Panaeolina foenisecii (Mower’s Mushroom or Brown Mottlegill) is larger than Psilocybe semilanceata, the cap is not pointed, but the color is similar. This would indicate that you have come across a liberty cap, as with other lookalikes, the cap will be so weak that it will break apart. When a liberty cap is wet, it will have a little sticky film over the cap. A lot of lookalikes such as the Dung Roundhead can be slippery to touch, whereas the liberty cap can either be sticky or just dry. Liberty caps will also look different when wet, with a browner looking stipe.
Ghost Pipe Thrives on Nearby Fungi, Not Sunlight
This species was first described in 1838 by the great Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries, who named it Agaricus semilanceatus. It is our understanding that it is illegal to possess or to sell psilocybin in the UK. The common name Magic Mushroom is, of course, a reference to the hallucinogenic nature of this grassland species
The surface is smooth but it appears fibrous on close inspection and is sometimes colored blue towards the base, sometimes with mycelium still connected which may become bluish tinged, especially during drying. When young and moist, the cap has a translucent jelly skin covering (a “separable gelatinous pellicle”) that can be peeled away with care. The top of the cap very often has a distinct “nipple” (or papilla) which can either be quite pronounced or barely present. P. semilanceata is widely distributed around temperate zones of the planet. While a number of species share some of these features, none of them will harbor all of them.
Where can you find liberty cap mushrooms?
It can vary in color depending on moisture, but is usually a cream or brown color with a pronounced bump on the top that looks pimple-like. However, the absolute amount is higher in larger mushrooms. On average, Psilocybe azurenscens (considered the most potent psilocybin mushroom) contains more psilocybin (1.78 percent). The species is much less common in South America, with the mushroom being found in Chile. Liberty caps also have a wide distribution in North America. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration classifies psilocybin as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Fungi foragers are justifiably concerned about mistaking P. semilanceata for deadly poisonous species such as the death cap, Amanita phalloides. The cap can be variable in shape, size and color, but the surface is smooth (but may become wrinkled when dry), and it is extremely hygrophanous (referring to the marked color change noted as the mushroom tissue loses water). Inocybe geophylla, the white fibercap, can be distinguished by its yellowish-brown to pale grayish gills and yellowish-brown spore print. They never fruit in clumps where stems attach to each other as some mushrooms do, but singly or in scattered groups. The liberty cap is named for its resemblance to the liberty pole – a symbol of freedom originating in the Roman Empire.
The Complete Guide to Liberty Cap Mushrooms
Like Panaeolus species, the stems are often brittle and will snap easily when bending. In the second two examples, the caps are more rounded than pointy and lack distinctive nipples. In the first two examples below, the caps are dry but still dark in colour. The stems of Panaeolus species are often brittle and will snap easily when bending.
Panaeolina foenisecii, the Brown Mottlegill or Mower’s Mushroom, is very similar in colour but is usually larger and does not have a pointed cap. Panaeolus semiovatus, the Dung Roundhead, is usually larger and does not have a pointed cap. This poisonous saprobic grassland mushroom is most often found on upland pastures, notably on hill slopes.
The Appearance Of Liberty Caps Mushrooms
They are treated in UK Law in the same way as dried magic mushrooms, because whether fresh or dried they have the same Class A drug status as Heroin, LSD and Cocaine. Some of these little mushrooms do indeed look like spears, although many have wiggly stems uncharacteristic of spear shafts. Liberty cap mushrooms have a rich historical significance for their medicinal properties, which continue to garner scientific interest today. In that case, we recommend consulting with a professional to be sure you aren’t confusing the mushrooms you’re collecting with similar species that could be dangerous. Not only do spore prints help in mushroom identification but they can also be used for growing your own mushrooms!
- Panaeolina foenisecii (Mower’s Mushroom or Brown Mottlegill) is larger than Psilocybe semilanceata, the cap is not pointed, but the color is similar.
- The genus Pholotina can be distinguished by their rusty brown spore deposit, while all species of Psathyrella are unusually fragile.
- Because this is when us mushroom hunters revel in the wilderness.
- If you try peeling this by scratching the underside of the caps rim upwards, you’ll be able to peel a little sticky film off.
- The color of the spores can be used to distinguish Psilocybe Semilanceata from other species of mushrooms.
Liberty cap mushrooms: a potent psychedelic mushroom
This dung-loving mushroom is very common in grazed grassland. These examples are by no means exhaustive, and similar-looking mushrooms may vary in your region. The gills slope upwards and only attach to the stem right at the top. The stem is ivory to pale brown and often darker towards the base. We have learned which mushrooms are poisonous or not poisonous through the experiences of the unfortunate. Liberty caps come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours.
Liberty caps vary in color and are hygrophanous, which means they can appear to change color and transparency depending on the level of moisture in their environment. To take a spore print, cut the cap off of a mature mushroom from where the stem meets it, then place the cap on some foil, paper, or glass. The cap of this mushroom is also shaped more like a hemisphere than a cone or a bell (hence the name), with hemispherical P. semilanceata being uncommon.
- Several studies have quantified the amounts of hallucinogenic compounds found in the fruit bodies of Psilocybe semilanceata.
- It is translucent such that you can see the gills running down the underside as in the first row above.
- The possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms, including P. semilanceata, is therefore prohibited by extension.
- This is one reason why the mushroom’s fruit bodies may change color when moist and appear dull when dried out.
It is often found in pastures that have been fertilized with sheep or cow dung, although it does not typically grow directly on the dung. It differs from P. semilanceata by virtue of its smaller spores, measuring 9–13 by 5–7 μm. Another lookalike species is P. samuiensis, found in Thailand, where it grows in well-manured clay-like soils or among paddy fields. P. strictipes is a slender grassland species that is differentiated macroscopically from P. semilanceata by the lack of a prominent papilla. There are several other Psilocybe species that may be confused with P. semilanceata due to similarities in physical appearance. These versions had elongated caps, 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in) long and 0.8–1 cm (0.3–0.4 in) wide at the base, with the inward curved margins closely hugging the stipe from the development of membranous flanges.
However, there are some reports of hospitalization after ingesting liberty caps. So, you may be wondering how many liberty caps to eat if you want a light, medium, or strong trip. One needs to consume a lower dosage of liberty caps in comparison to Psilocybe cubensis in order to reach the same intensity of subjective effects. It’s important to be aware of the high potency of liberty caps before deciding to consume them. As well as resembling the famed cap, there are other aspects of the appearance of liberty caps that you should know about.
For example, in places like Oregon and Colorado, recent legislative changes have made possession of small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms a low-priority offense or legal in some cities. Many psilocybes develop this ring-like band that breaks apart as the mushroom cap grows and expands (1). Liberty cap mushrooms may also be confused with the Galerina species of mushrooms. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about the liberty cap mushroom, from its history and appearance to its effects and potential risks. In that case, one particularly intriguing mushroom stands out—the liberty cap mushroom.
Liberty Cap Identifying Features, in Detail
When picking mushrooms, some recommend the “flick and pick” approach to harvesting. Put a drop of water on the cap, and put a glass over it that has been misted to ensure a humid atmosphere (which helps facilitate the dropping of spores). Both can be distinguished by their lack of a pronounced nipple, and lack of gelatinous layer to the cap that can be peeled off, unlike P. semilanceata. The genus Pholotina can be distinguished by their rusty brown spore deposit, while all species of Psathyrella are unusually fragile. Its cap may have an umbo or raised area in the center of the cap but tends to lack liberty caps gills the papilla or distinctive nipple on the cap possessed by P. semilanceata. Psilocybe silvatica is another similar species also reported growing in association with conifers in the northern half of North America.