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GROWTH PARAMETERS 329
Psilocybe which persisted for years. (Consult Smith (1977), Ott (1978) and Singer (1986, pp. 570-
571, see footnotes.))
Our limited understanding of the temperate, wood-inhabiting Psilocybe, particularly the
Psilocybe cyanescens group, derives from, or more accurately suffers from, our interpretations of
Singer and Smith's publications of 1958. We now know that a large constellation of species, subspecies
and races revolves around the species concept of P cyanescens. (The taxonomy of this group is
mired in a problem comparable to Pleurotus sajor-caju and Pleurotus pulmonarius. (See page 321.))
Mycologists in the past have improperly mis-applied species concepts from the European continent
to North American candidates.
The type collection of Psilocybe cyanescens described by Wakefield from England lacks
pleurocystidia, microscopic sterile cells on the surfaces of the gills. The photographs of a mushroom
species from western North America identified in popular field guides as Psilocybe cyanescens (see
Stamets (1978), Arora (1979), Lincoff (1981), Arora (1991) and numerous papers published since
1958) show a mushroom which, in fact, possesses abundant, capitate pleurocystidia. (See Figure
291.) Since this feature is consistent and obvious in water mounts under a microscope, and occurs in
such high numbers, the mushroom in question can not be the true P cyanescens. In fact, I believe no
species concept has yet been published to accurately delimit this mushroom.
Another unnamed species, originating from the Columbia river basin nearAstoria, Oregon is similar
to the misnamed "P cyanescens". This mushroom, distinguished by its comparatively great size
and non-undulating cap margin, is a close cousin, possibly belonging to the European Psilocybe
serbica Moser et Horak complex. Provisionally, I am giving this mushroom the name Psilocybe
azurescens Stamets and Gartz nom. prov. The third species in this group from the Pacific Northwest is
distinguished by its forking cheilocystidia, and is called Psilocybe cyanofibrillosa Stamets &
Guzman. (See Stamets et aL,l980) I know of several more taxa yet to be published. Despite the unusual
attention these mushrooms have received, the taxonomy of this group needs further
exploration. This group of new Psilocybes falls within an expanded concept of Singer & Smith's
Stirps Cyanescens as amended by Guzman.
This complex of species is fairly easy to identify. The mushrooms are generally cosmopolitan, and
virtually absent from virgin forest ecosystems. They thrive in sawdust and chips from alder and Douglas
firs. The mushrooms are collybioid—forming clusters that resemble the Genus Collybia in habit
only. The caps are uniquely caramel to chestnut colored and strongly hygrophanous. The cap is featured
with a separable gelatinous skin and brown gills which produce purple brown spores. The base
of the stems radiate clusters of thick white rhizomorphs. Upon bruising, the flesh turns bluish to dark
purple. These features separate this group of mushrooms from all others. This group can be further
delimited into two sub-groups: those possessing or lacking pleurocystidia. Species having
pleurocystida can be lageniform or fusoid-ventricose with a narrow or bulbous apex.
Description: Caps are hemispheric at first, soon convex, expanding to broadly convex and eventually
plane in age, 2-10 cm. in diameter. Caps are strongly hygrophanous, sometimes chestnut especially
when old or when the gills have fully matured. Cap margins are typically even at first, and straightening
with age. Some varieties develop a pronounced, distinct and undulating margin. Other species in
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