International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v15.i6.90

pages 607-615

The Japanese Hallucinogenic Mushrooms Psilocybe and a New Synonym of P. subcaerulipes with Three Asiatic Species Belong to Section Zapotecorum (Higher Basidiomycetes)

Gastón Guzmán

Instituto de Ecologia, Apartada Postal 63, Xalapa, Veracruz 91000, Mexico

Alonso Cortes-Perez

Instituto de Ecologia, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

Florencia Ramirez-Guillén

Instituto de Ecologia, Apartado Postal 63, Xalapa 91000, Veracruz, Mexico

ABSTRACT

The subtropical Japanese bluing mushroom Psilocybe subcaerulipes, described by Hongo, has several synonyms: P. argentipes by Yokoyama (also from Japan), P. taiwanensis by Guzman and Yang (from Taiwan), and P. thaizapoteca by Guzman, Ramirez-Guillen, and Karunaratna (from Thailand). The study of the holotypes and others specimens of these mushrooms shows that they have basidiospores, pleurocystidia, cheilocystidia, and several other important taxonomic features in common, as well as habitat. Recent discussions of all Japanese hallucinogenic species of Psilocybe and their neurotropic effects are also considered.