Pointed conical bald head
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Conical bald head ( P. semilanceata ) |
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| Psilocybe semilanceata | ||||||||||||
| ( Fr. ) P. Kumm. |
The conical bald head ( Psilocybe semilanceata ) is the most widespread and most common psilocybin-containing agaric fungus in temperate zones of the earth.
features
In terms of color and size, it is an inconspicuous lamellar fungus with a hat the size of a fingernail and a thin, not quite straight stem. It grows on rather poor grasslands, often on autumn sheep or cattle pastures, but never directly out of the animal manure. Its mycelium lives as a grass dweller. The dark lamellae of its fruiting bodies run almost parallel to the outside of the hat towards its tip - in contrast to the conical manure ( Panaeolus acuminatus ), which is often confused with it, or the hemispherical manure ( Stropharia semiglobata ), which is often found in similar but more dung-rich localities ), all of which are also dark spurs.
The characteristic that gives the mushroom its name, the pointed, conical, bald hat, has a diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters and usually has a small bulge, a "nipple", on the tip, which is initially almost glassy in damp weather. When wet, its color is dark brown, its epidermis then sticky and easy to peel off. In dry weather the hat is light ocher in color. The hat usually forms an angle of 55 degrees, but spreads a little with age. The brim of the hat is usually pulled together like a circlet and is darker. The lamellae are initially clay-brown and change color to dark brown to purple as the fungus ages; in the cold in late autumn, however, they remain light because the dark spores then fail to develop. The lamellar edges are bright.
The stalk has a diameter of one to two millimeters and is four on short-grass grassland, in higher up to 13 centimeters long. It is whitish to ocher in color, elastic, so not easy to break. The base of the stalk is often bluish in color. The blue stain also occurs within about an hour from pressure on the lower part of the stem. The "hat meat" (the trama) is thin and can be torn without effort. The spores are elliptical, thick-walled and smooth and have a size of about 12-16 µm × 6-8 µm. The spore dust is dark brown to purple brown. The taste is not sharp, but like the barely noticeable smell, radish to grassy.
Occurrence
The conical bald head is considered the most common fungus of the genus Psilocybe outside the tropics and grows on grassland, mostly on the parts of the grass close to the ground, often on sheep or cattle pastures, but never directly from their animal manure, as well as on grassy, non-nutrient-rich Places of open land ("lean grassland"). On the other hand, he seems to avoid forest and limestone areas. The fungus can also be found on naturally fertilized meadows in parks and on sports fields and golf courses, in Central Europe until the end of November in mild weather.
It can be found in the plains of Northern Europe as well as on meadows in the low mountain ranges or the alpine pastures . In Tyrol it was also found in large quantities at altitudes of 1,400 to 1,700 meters, in the Black Forest at 820 to 1,300 meters above sea level. Although the frequency of finds decreases in lower-lying areas, the cause is probably not the difference in height, but the use of liquid manure or artificial fertilization and drainage in lower elevations. On the other hand, according to Krieglsteiner, it should be a bit “salt-loving”. Hence its striking frequency, for example, along the west coast of Ireland. However, there is still no scientific evidence in this regard. Originally the conical bald head was probably only native to the temperate climates of Europe and North America, but is now found worldwide in temperate to subtropical climates. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the Northwest states. In Europe, the Swiss and Austrian Alps have the highest deposits. Sites have also been reported in Wales, Scotland and Norway.
The best time to find this mushroom is in late summer to early autumn, i.e. in August to October; in mild locations it can also be found occasionally up to January.
Psilocybin content
Biochemical studies showed an average psilocybin content of 0.8 to 1.0 percent in dry matter . Therefore, this mushroom is one of the most potent hallucinogenic types. Psilocybin levels of up to 1.34 percent were found in specimens from wild collections, and 2.02 percent in some specimens from Switzerland. With a low dose, intoxication occurs, with a medium dose often colorful hallucinations in well-defined, possibly “Indian patterns”. At a high dose, a distorted perception of time and space, balance and orientation disorders arise. Breathing rate and depth of breathing can also be impaired.
In addition to psilocybin, the possibly also psychoactive baeocystin can be detected.
history
Late Neolithic, mushroom-like rock engravings in Valcamonica in northern Italy are isolated, but controversial, interpreted as evidence of an entheogenic use of the mushrooms.
The Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann discovered in the investigation of many Mexican species of the genus Psilocybe the drug psilocybin. This scientist also succeeded in the structure elucidation and the full synthesis of this hallucinogenic natural substance . Although he only published his discovery in a small scientific journal, knowledge of the indigenous active ingredient-containing mushroom spread very quickly.
In Switzerland, Austria and Germany, collecting and eating has been a firm tradition for at least 30 years, especially among younger people (see: Venturini and Vannini, hallucinogens ). A ritual ingestion was first described by Linder in 1981 "as part of a cult that has existed for about seven years with complicated sweat bath rituals, prayers, pipe ceremonies (without psychoactive substances), fasting, incense, sacrifices and music".
Currently, the cultivation, sale, or possession of mushrooms containing psilocybin is prohibited in most countries around the world. Collecting in nature is also a violation of the Narcotics Act in Germany .
Popular names
Psilo, psilocybin mushroom, magic mushroom, magic mushroom, blue leg, liberty cap, little dwarf hat, fool's sponge, lance-shaped fertilizer, pixie cap, Sandy saga rose, witch cap, "narrische / damische / hasch mushroom" (Austrian coll.), Shroom, pointed heads .
literature
- Paul Stamets: Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World. A practical guide to safe identification, with 130 color photos. 3. Edition. AT-Verlag, Aarau 2009, ISBN 978-3-85502-607-4 .
- René Flammer, Egon Horak: Poison mushrooms - mushroom poisons. Mushroom poisoning. A reference work for doctors, pharmacists, biologists, mycologists, mushroom experts and mushroom pickers. Schwabe, Basel 2003, ISBN 3-7965-2008-1 .
- Swiss journal for mushroom science. Issues 6/2004 and 1/2005.
- German J. Krieglsteiner, Distribution atlas of large mushrooms in Germany (West) , Volume 1 B, 1991, ISBN 3-8001-3318-0 , card 2038
- German Josef Krieglsteiner (Ed.), Andreas Gminder : Die Großpilze Baden-Württemberg . Volume 4: Mushrooms. Blattpilze II. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3281-8 , p. 403 f.
- R. Parnefjord: The drug paperback. 4th edition. Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-13-118034-6 .
- Claudio Vannini, Maurizio Venturini: Hallucinogens: Development of research, 1938 to the present day, focus on Switzerland. Publishing house for science and education, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-86135-459-4 .
Web links
- Extensive gallery regarding the conical bald head
- Further extensive gallery regarding the conical bald head
- Detailed report on Psilocybe semilanceata
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hans E. Laux: The great Kosmos mushroom guide , Franckh-Kosmos Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart 2001, p. 322. ISBN 978-3-440-08457-1
- ^ Roth, Frank & Kormann: Giftpilze - Pilzgifte , Nikol Verlag, Karlsruhe 1989. ISBN 3-933203-42-2 .
- ^ Adrian Linder: Cultic use of psychoactive plants in industrial societies - cultural-historical interpretation. In: Gisela Völger, Karin von Welck (eds.): Rausch and Reality. Volume 3, Rowohlt, Hamburg 1982, ISBN 3-499-34006-2 , p. 1277.
