Psilocybe pelliculosa

Taxonomy

The species was first described scientifically by Alexander H. Smith in 1937 as Psathyra pelliculosa,{{#tag:ref|Depending on the authority consulted, the taxon Psathyra is considered either a subgenus of Psathyrella,

The specific epithet pelliculosa is derived from the Latin pellicula, meaning "film", and refers to the gelatinous pellicle of the cap. The mushroom is commonly known as the "conifer Psilocybe" or the "striate Psilocybe".

Description

The cap of P. pelliculosa is initially sharply cone-shaped, and expands slightly over time to become broadly bell-shaped, but it never expands to become completely flat. The cap margin is pressed against the stem initially, and for a short time is appendiculate (has partial veil fragments hanging from the margin). The caps of mature specimens are smooth, sticky, and have translucent radial striations that reach dimensions of 0.8 to in diameter. The color ranges from umber to isabella (dark dingy yellow-brown) when the mushroom is moist, and changes to pinkish-buff when dry. The cap margin can have a greenish-gray tinge. The cap cuticle is a thin gelatinous covering that can be peeled off.

The gills have an adnate attachment to the cap, are narrow to moderately broad, closely spaced, and eventually separate from the stem. Young gills are cinnamon-brown in color, with lighter edges, but darken in maturity because they become covered with the dark spores. The stem is 6 to long by 1.5 to thick, and roughly equal in width throughout except for a slightly enlarged base; rather pliant but rigid. The lower region of the stem is brownish in color and has silky fibrils pressed against the stem; the upper region is grayish and pruinose (lightly dusted with powdery white granules). The flesh turns slightly bluish or greenish where it has been injured. The application of a drop of dilute potassium hydroxide solution on the cap or flesh will cause a color change to pale to dark yellowish to reddish brown; a drop on the stem produces a less intense or no color change.

The spore print is purplish brown. Under the microscope, the spores appear dull purple-brown. They are ellipsoid to somewhat egg-shaped, and, according to Singer's original description, measure 8–10 by 4–5 μm. A later study of specimens collected from British Columbia, Canada, instead reported a larger spore size range of 10–13 by 6–7 μm. The spores have an apical germ pore. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are four-spored, hyaline (translucent), and measure 22–35 by 7–10 μm. There are abundant cystidia that form a sterile band on the edges of the gills (cheilocystidia); these cystidia are smooth, inflated, and fusoid-ventricose (enlarged in the middle and tapered toward both ends) with a sharp tip, and measure 25–30 by 6–9 μm. The cap cuticle (an ixocutis) is made of a layer of roughly horizontal, gelatinized, wavy, hyaline hyphae that are 0.8–5.5 μm in diameter.

Similar species

The overall stature of the fruit bodies of P. pelliculosa is generally similar to those of Mycena, Galerina, or Hypholoma. a species found in northern North America and Europe.

Habitat and distribution

The fruit bodies of P. pelliculosa grow in groups or clusters on moss, forest debris, and humus in coniferous forests. it is not commonly found in grasslands. It is known from the Pacific Northwest region of North America where it has been collected in California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and it is widely distributed in British Columbia, Canada. It is also found in northern Europe, a single collection from Finland. The fungus often fruits along forest paths and abandoned logging roads where alders and firs are growing. Fruit bodies tend to appear in late summer to early winter after cool, wet weather.

Psychoactivity

Psilocybe pelliculosa contains the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and baeocystin, and is used as a recreational drug. In terms of psychoactive potency, Stamets considers the species "relatively weak". Psilocybin levels have been reported to range from 1.2 to 1.7 milligrams per gram of dried mushroom, while baeocystin was measured at 0.04%.

Notes

References

Cited texts

References

1. classified]] the species in the [[section (biology). section]] ''Semilanceatae'', a grouping of related species characterized by having roughly ellipsoid, usually thick-walled [[spore]]s, and lacking [[pleurocystidia]].Guzmán (1983), p. 342.
2. Smith noted a superficial resemblance to ''[[Psathyra fagicola. P. semilanceata]]'', but the latter can be distinguished by its larger spores and a conical, [[umbo (mycology)
3. The fungus prefers to fruit in disturbed areas such as trails and abandoned forest roads;Stamets (1996), p. 2.
4. Guzmán (1983), p. 357–9.
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16. Smith AH.. (1937). "New and unusual agarics from the western United States". Mycologia.
17. Smith AH.. (1941). "Studies of North American agarics–I". Contributions of the University of Michigan Herbarium.
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20. van Waveren K.. (1985). "The Dutch, French, and British species of ''Psathyrella''". Rijksherbarium.