Liberty cap
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Hymenomycetes Order: Agaricales Family: Strophariaceae Genus: Psilocybe Species: P. semilanceata
Binomial name
Psilocybe semilanceata (Fr.) P. Kumm.

Psilocybe semilanceata mycological characteristics:   gills on hymenium     cap is conical or umbonate Image File history File links Psilocybe_semilanceata. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Subkingdom/Phyla Chytridiomycota Blastocladiomycota Neocallimastigomycota Glomeromycota Zygomycota Dikarya (inc. ... Subphyla/Classes Pucciniomycotina Ustilaginomycotina Agaricomycotina Incertae sedis (no phylum) Wallemiomycetes Entorrhizomycetes Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla, that together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya, which were in general what were called the Higher Fungi within the Kingdom Fungi. ... Hymenomycete are a type of fungi. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Genera Hypholoma Kuehneromyces Melanotus Phaeogalera Pholiota Psilocybe Stropharia Strophariaceae is a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. ... This article or section is missing citation of sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Drawn image of Elias Magnus Fries Elias Magnus Fries (August 15, 1794 – February 8, 1878) was a Swedish botanist born at Femsjö in Smalandia. ... Paul Kummer (1834–1912) was a priest, teacher, and scientist in Zerbst, Germany, known chiefly for his contribution to mycological nomenclature. ... Image File history File links Gills_icon. ... Classes Homobasidiomycetes - mushrooms Heterobasidiomycetes - jelly fungi The Subdivision Hymenomycotina (Hymenomycetes) is one of three taxa of the fungal Division Basidiomycota (fungi bearing spores on basidia). ... Image File history File links Conical_cap_icon. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The cap of a fungal fruiting body. ... The cap of a fungal fruiting body. ...     hymenium is adnate or adnexed Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Classes Homobasidiomycetes - mushrooms Heterobasidiomycetes - jelly fungi The Subdivision Hymenomycotina (Hymenomycetes) is one of three taxa of the fungal Division Basidiomycota (fungi bearing spores on basidia). ... Classes Homobasidiomycetes - mushrooms Heterobasidiomycetes - jelly fungi The Subdivision Hymenomycotina (Hymenomycetes) is one of three taxa of the fungal Division Basidiomycota (fungi bearing spores on basidia). ...   stipe is bare Image File history File links Bare_stipe_icon. ... Diagram of a basidiomycete stipe with a annulus and vulva In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. ...     spore print is brown or purple Image File history File links Brown_spore_print_icon. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. ... Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. ...   ecology is saprophytic Image File history File links Saprophytic_ecology_icon. ... A saprotroph (or saprobe) is an organism that obtains its nutrients from non-living organic matter, usually dead and decaying plant or animal matter, by absorbing soluble organic compounds. ...   edibility: psychoactive Image File history File links Psychoactive_toxicity_icon. ... Psychedelic mushrooms is a general term for fungi that contain psychoactive substances. ...

Psilocybe semilanceata, the liberty cap, is a psychedelic mushroom that contains the psychoactive compound psilocybin. It grows on grassy meadows and similar; particularly in wet, south-facing fields and other habitats well fertilised by sheep and other cattle feces, although unlike Psilocybe cubensis it does not grow directly on the dung itself. It is found throughout the cool temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and it is most common in "Europe, Russia, India, Peru and the Pacific Northwest United States and Northeastern North America."^[1] Psychedelic mushrooms is a general term for fungi that contain psychoactive substances. ... Psilocybin (also known as psilocybine) is a psychedelic alkaloid of the tryptamine family, found in psilocybin mushrooms. ... Binomial name (Earle) Singer Psilocybe cubensis is a species of psychedelic mushroom whose principle active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin. ... Northern hemisphere highlighted in yellow. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ...

Etymology

The mushroom takes its name from an actual cap, the Phrygian cap, also known as the liberty cap, which it resembles. The Latin word for Phrygian cap is pileus, nowadays the technical name for what is commonly known as the "cap" of a fungal fruiting body. In the 18th century CE Phrygian caps were stuck on Liberty poles, which resemble the stem of the mushroom. The binominal name can be broken down into the Greek "psilo" (bald) and "cybe" (head), and the Latin "semi" (half) and "lanceata" (lanced or pierced). A Phrygian cap The Phrygian cap or Bonnet Phrygien is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward, worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. ... A Phrygian cap The Phrygian cap or Bonnet Phrygien is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward, worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. ... The cap of a fungal fruiting body. ... A Liberty pole is a tall flagstaff planted in the ground, often surmounted by an ensign or a liberty cap (see Phrygian cap). ... Diagram of a basidiomycete stipe with a annulus and vulva In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. ... In zoological nomenclature, binominal nomenclature refers to species have a name composed of two names, a binomen: a generic name and a specific name. ...

Identification

Liberty caps have a distinctive conical head with a small point or nipple on the tip. They are yellow to brown in colour and the caps are slimy when moist. Their stems tend to be long, slightly wavy and the same colour or slightly lighter than the cap. The gills are darker than the outer cap. There are several species of lookalikes, with domed heads and translucent stalks some of the main giveaways when identifying impostors. As with all fungus, if in doubt do not consume before ascertaining the exact species. Anecdotal evidence suggests that accidental consumption of lookalike mushrooms in reasonable doses is unlikely to lead to anything worse than an upset stomach, but it is still an unnecessary risk.

Contemporary use in the UK

In Britain, a 'loophole' in UK law allowed the selling and possession of fresh, unprepared psychoactive mushrooms. Consequently, the early 21st century has seen a movement away from the 'club drugs' (such as ecstasy, ketamine and amphetamines) of the 1990s and a return to the 'psychedelica' of the drug culture's forefathers in the 1960s ^{[citation needed]}. ... MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), most commonly known by the street names ecstasy or XTC (for more names see the full list), is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family, whose primary effect is believed to be the stimulation of secretion as well as inhibition of re-uptake of large amounts... Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic for use in human and veterinary medicine. ... Amphetamine is a synthetic drug originally developed (and still used) as an appetite suppressant. ...

After much indecision (or unwillingness to legislate) governmental forces closed the loop hole. As from July 18, 2005 all retail transactions involving psychoactive mushrooms became illegal (with the exception of fly agaric), and possession of practically all psychoactive mushrooms was made illegal under the Drugs Act of 2005. Any transgression is treatable as a criminal offence involving a Class A substance. Binomial name Amanita muscaria Amanita muscaria is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Amanita. ...

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the comprehensive curtailing of 'shroom culture' so suddenly has resulted in a tremendous increase in the use of the liberty cap by people who can no longer obtain their substance of choice by retail ^{[citation needed]}. Consequently many ancient sites of liberty cap 'nexuses' across the UK have been destroyed due to inexpert harvesting^{[citation needed]}. Removal of the root of a sufficient number of individual organisms results in the death of the mycelium and the loss of mushroom growth over a widespread area ^{[citation needed]}. This is averted by the severance of the mushroom at the base of the stem as opposed to simple 'plucking'^{[citation needed]}. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. ...

It is now illegal in the UK to pick or prepare any strain of psilocybe mushrooms in any form. The disturbance of psilocybe semilanceata from their natural state, the drying or preparation thereof or the possession of any psilocybin containing mushroom in any state is prohibited under that country's law and can lead to prosecution, a fine and/or imprisonment. A certain amount of ambiguity remains around the cultivation of psilocybe mushrooms for scientific/mycological purposes, but it is not recommended without the previous consultation of appropriate authorities.

Gallery

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1206x966, 262 KB) de: Spitzkegeliger Kahlkopf pl: Łysiczka lancetowata - baj Koń. kopirajt? olrajt! Originally uploaded to pl. ... Image File history File links Libertycap. ...

External links

• Psilocybe semilanceata (Google Images)
• Psilocybe semilanceata Including Some Range Maps

See also

• Mushroom hunting
• Psilocybin mushrooms

Morphological characteristics of the caps of mushroom, such as those illustrated in the above chart, are essential for correct mushroom identification. ... Psychedelic mushrooms redirects here. ...

References