The common types of magic mushrooms are Psilocybe Cubensis, Semilanceata, and Cyanescens. All contain Psilocybin, which causes a high when ingested. However, some are more potent than others and grow in specific regions.
If you’re new to growing or using psychedelic mushrooms, the first step is to identify the type you have.
Magic mushrooms come in different varieties, each with its strength, growth requirements, and best way to consume it. Some even have toxic substances that should be avoided.
In this article, you’ll learn about the different types of magic mushrooms, how to recognize them, their potency, and their growing conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Most shroom edible products contain Psilocybe Cubensis, a popular type of magic mushroom.
- Liberty caps and Wavy Caps are also popular and more potent.
- Amanita Muscaria doesn’t contain psilocybin. Its main ingredient is muscimol, often used as a medicinal supplement.
- When buying shroom products, inspect the label to determine which type of magic mushroom was the main ingredient.
- You can buy shrooms online in various infused forms, including chocolate, tea, and capsules. These options provide a convenient way to consume psilocybin while masking the raw taste. Always ensure you’re purchasing from a trusted source that follows legal guidelines.
What You Should Know About Psilocybin Mushrooms
Magic mushrooms are typically ingested for their hallucinogenic effects caused by psilocybin. The scientific name for Psolocybin is 4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine. These shrooms belong to the group of psychedelic drugs that can alter our sense of vision, time, and emotions. When consumed, psilocybin is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the substance responsible for its mind-altering effects.
Magic mushrooms were mainly valued for their spiritual effects from pre-Columbian times. The native people of Mesoamerica have used the hallucinogenic species of the Psilocybe genus for religious rituals, divination, and healing.
The modern practice of taking magic mushrooms is “microdosing.” This is when you take small, sub-psychoactive doses of psychedelic substances to enhance creativity, mood, and cognitive function.
Apart from psilocybin, shrooms also contain Baeocystin and Norbaeocystin in smaller quantities.
Common Characteristics of Magic Mushrooms
While there are various types of magic mushrooms, there are some similar characteristics.
Morphological features
- The top part of a magic mushroom is called the cap. It usually looks like a small umbrella and can vary in color from brown to golden.
- Some have a smooth, slightly sticky surface, especially wet ones. Underneath the cap are the gills, which are thin, plate-like structures.
- They can be dark brown or almost black, depending on the age of the mushroom, and they release spores like tiny seeds.
- The stem is the stalk that supports the cap. It is usually thin and can be white or light brown.
- The stem is often hollow and sometimes has a ring near the top.
Habitat and growth conditions
Magic mushrooms need a lot of moisture to grow well, and they are often found in damp places like forests or fields after rain.
They also grow on organic material like rotting wood, manure, or moist soil rich in nutrients.
Meanwhile, growing magic mushrooms in manure-based compost is more affordable and widespread.
Popular Species of Psilocybin Mushrooms
Here are some of the common species of magic mushrooms:
- Psilocybe Cubensis
Psilocybe Cubensis has large, flat golden brown caps. When they go bad, the psilocin inside reacts with air, turning the caps bluish-purple.
P. cubensis mushrooms are often called golden halos or golden caps, and popular strains include Golden Teacher, Penis Envy, and B+.
They are mostly found in warm areas like Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America.
- Psilocybe Semilanceata (Liberty Cap)
Psilocybe Semilanceata grows in meadows and grassy areas with cattle or sheep.
These mushrooms are known for their small size and bell-shaped caps. They are hard to grow indoors, but foragers often find them in the wild.
- Psilocybe Cyanescens (Wavy Cap)
Psilocybe cyanescens have wavy-edged caps and are among the most potent psilocybin mushrooms.
However, they’re hard to grow indoors. P. Cyanescens usually grow on rotting wood chips, commonly found in the Pacific Northwest.
- Psilocybe Azurescens
Psilocybe azurescens, also called flying saucer mushrooms, are potent because they contain three to four times more psilocybin than Psilocybe cubensis, or liberty caps.
This mushroom strain has a cap that starts rounded and flattens as it ages, along with a thin stem.
They grow in sandy soils with lots of woody debris, especially in coastal dune areas.
- Psilocybe Mexicana
Psilocybe mexicana was commonly used by indigenous Mesoamerican cultures in spiritual and religious ceremonies.
According to Spanish chroniclers, the Aztecs called them “Teonanácatl,” which means “god fungus.”
They still grow in Mexico and are called “pajaritos,” or little birds, because of their small size and psychoactive potency.
- Amanita Muscaria
Amanita Muscaria, also known as Fly Agaric, is a different kind of psychedelic mushroom that is well-known for its bright red caps with white spots.
For years, people have used this species of mushroom in shamanic rituals. They are often linked to images of magic and fairies.
Unlike other psychedelic mushrooms, Amanita Muscaria contains muscimol instead of psilocybin.
Its effects can differ, ranging from euphoria, changes in perception, and dream-like experiences to muscle twitching and nausea.
- Golden Teacher Mushroom
Golden Teacher mushrooms are a well-known psilocybin variety, recognized for their golden caps and reputation for deep, introspective experiences. Their balanced potency makes them ideal for both beginners and experienced users.
Key Benefits:
- Natural & Organic – Contain naturally occurring psilocybin, which converts to psilocin in the body.
- Potential Mental Health Benefits – It may aid in depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction by influencing serotonin receptors.
- Unique Psychedelic Experience – Offers gentle yet profound effects, enhancing sensory perception while maintaining mental clarity.
Why Choose Golden Teachers?
Their moderate intensity provides a meaningful yet non-overwhelming experience, making them popular for therapeutic use and self-exploration.
Buy If:
Buy Golden teacher mushroom spores if you want to grow a mushroom with a natural approach to mental wellness, consciousness exploration, or a beginner-friendly psychedelic.
Effects and Potency of Different Species
Generally, the mind-altering effects of psilocybin-containing mushrooms typically last from 3 to 6 hours, depending on dosage, preparation method, and personal metabolism.
But how immersive the experience is depends on the species of magic mushrooms.
Comparison of potency across species
In the chart below, we compare the potency level of the popular magic mushroom species:
| Magic Mushroom Species | Potency |
| Psilocybe cubensis | High |
| Psilocybe cyanescens | Very high |
| Psilocybe azurescens | Very high |
| Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty Cap) | Medium |
| Amanita Muscaria | Medium |
Factors influencing potency of Psilocybin Mushrooms
It is the level of psilocybin content in magic mushrooms that determines their potency. Some factors influence how much psilocybin you find in certain shroom species:
- Growing Conditions: The environment is very important for how potent psilocybin mushrooms can get. For example, the best temperature for growing depends on the type of mushroom but is usually between 20-25°C (68-77°F). Mushrooms also thrive with moisture and some indirect light to grow.
- Substrate: The material which mushrooms grow has a big impact on their potency. Rich substrates like manure or high-nutrient soil help produce potent raw shrooms.
- Harvest time: Harvesting them when fully grown usually results in higher potency. They won’t be as potent if you harvest them too early or too late. The best time to harvest or pluck them off is when the thin layer under the cap starts to break, which means they’re mature.
- Storage: Magic mushrooms degrade in potency if they aren’t stored properly after harvest or after you’ve purchased them. For example, if they are kept in a damp place for too long, they can develop mold, which looks like fuzzy patches, often in green, white, or black.
Properly drying them for storage helps preserve the potency of magic mushrooms.
What type of Psilocybin Mushroom should you consume?
Original shroom goodies should be made of naturally grown golden teacher mushrooms. However, some manufacturers use the Amanita Muscaria strain to avoid sales restrictions, whereas psilocybin is in a legal grey area. Since the Amanita Muscaria mushroom doesn’t contain psilocybin, it may not deliver the psychedelic high you’d otherwise experience with golden teacher shrooms, so where you source your shroom products matters.
When you shop for magic mushroom products, look at the ingredients on the label and confirm which type of shroom was used as its main ingredient.
Experienced shroom users on forums are constantly warning others to be careful of fake or synthetic chemicals used in supposedly shroom products.
At Schedule35, we stock a variety of products containing Psilocybe Cubensis (Golden Teacher) to help you improve your mental health and reap the benefits of magic mushrooms.
Some of the high-quality shroom products you can order online include:
- Shroom capsule microdoses.
- Psilocybin-infused chocolate bars.
- Shroom teas.
- Games to play while on shrooms high.
- Dosage guide.
Final Thoughts
Meanwhile, psilocybin mushrooms are just a class under the umbrella of psychedelics.
Psychedelics is the general term for certain substances that change or enhance your senses, thoughts, and energy levels when consumed.
