Which of them were/are consumed the most, which of them are dangerous and why. Where in the world do the most “magic mushrooms” grow and which ones are usually used for consumption?
Who consumes which species of psilocybe is really geographically different. On the East coast of the US, the most prevalent species seems to be Psilocybe Ovoideocystidiata and there is not a historical record of humans consuming it until recently. I think a more thorough understanding of it might reveal that it has only been naturalized in the area due to human activity, because it is most prevalent in wood chips along streams that are prone to flooding, often because of damming. Psilocybe Cyanescens is also naturalizing in similar places on the East coast. Psilocybe Cyanescens and Psilocybe Azurescens are species that are naturally associated with coastal parts of the Pacific Northwest in conjunction with sea grasses that have high lignen content. There is also very limited information about historical use of these mushrooms. Psilocybe Cubensis and Psilocybe Semilanceata are both associated with cow dung and Psilocybe Cubensis has a well documented history of use through many indigenous cultures throughout the southern US and into Mexico. Mexican cultures are probably those with the best historical documentation of ceremonial use. Aside from that, the recreational use throughout the United States has often been romanticized through cultural appropriation of purported ceremonial use. Ultimately it comes down to people often enjoy getting high and these mushrooms are often prolific. I’ve personally seen flushes in the tens of thousands, particularly when it comes to Psilocybe Ovoideocystideata in the Northeast US after a few good La Niña years. Psilocybe Cyanescens can be equally prolific, but people are pretty Keen on those, so well documented spots get literally torn up by wooks pretty quickly these days. The good news is that some species of Psilocybe grows just about anywhere you can imagine.
glimse@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Psilocybe (/ˌsaɪloʊˈsaɪbi/ SY-loh-SY-bee)[2] is a genus of gilled mushrooms, growing worldwide, in the family Hymenogastraceae. Most or nearly all species contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.