How Many Types of Magic Mushrooms Are There?
For an up-and-coming psychiatrist, trying all kinds of magic mushrooms is a goal worth striving for. But even if you take only those suitable for human consumption…
… There are really too many of them.
Magic mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes, with varying potencies, compounds, and additional benefits. However, one thing all magic mushrooms have in common is psilocybin, a major alkaloid in hallucinogens.
All magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, which appears to be non-toxic, but not all mushrooms contain it. Some species contain other compounds that are toxic, while others do not. Some of the compounds can cause stomach upset or organ damage. Therefore, when hunting for mushrooms in the wild, it is very important to know exactly what you are carrying. However, there are so many known species in nature that it is difficult to answer the question, “How many species of magic mushrooms are there?
Genus: psilocybe Among the different types of magic mushrooms, the genus Psilocybe is the most popular and well known. This collection of mushrooms contains a very extensive list of at least 245 species belonging to this genus. There are many varieties of the popular Psilocybe cubensis, some of which are listed in the cultivation kit catalogue. There are also many varieties of each of the 245 mushroom species, making the total number of species very large.
There are three main types of psilocybe mushrooms that are consumed.
Psilocybe cubensis – Probably the most common magic mushroom, especially in the psychedelic community, Psilocybe cubensis is quite large compared to other types of magic mushrooms and is sometimes referred to as the golden cap. Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe semilanceata – Commonly found in damp grasslands, Psilocybe semilanceata, is small, powerful and popular. It has been nicknamed “Liberty Cap”.
Psilocybe baeocystis – Known as “bluebells and bottle caps,” Psilocybe baeocystis prefers decaying wood.
OTHER GENERA
The Psilocybe genus of magic mushrooms is important, but not the only one. To get a sense of how many magic mushrooms there are, you need to consider other magic mushroom genera in addition to the Psilocybe genus. There are
– Copelandia
– Galerina
– Gymnopilus
– Inoshibe
– Mycena
– Panaeolina
– Panaeolus
– Pholiotina
– Pluteus
These genera may not match Psilocybe in a number of species, but they do contain species that contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin found in magic mushrooms. Again, many of them may contain other harmful compounds, so they may not all be suitable for human consumption, but technically they are all “magic”.
So how many different types of magic mushrooms are there? There are said to be eleven genera of magic mushrooms, but each genus has many species, and each species has its own variations. The number of species is in the hundreds, if not thousands, and many more are still being discovered. A new species of magic mushroom was discovered not long ago, and I’m sure there will be more soon. We still have a lot to learn.
