Psilocybe Taxonomy and Individual Needs

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PhenoDreamers
hi lol

Registered: 09/02/13
Posts: 3,565
Loc: USA

Last seen: 18 days, 12 hours

Psilocybe Taxonomy and Individual Needs

23
#29183195 - 04/09/25 07:10 AM (1 year, 4 months ago)

Title says it all. I'll document my best understanding of taxonomy in the Psilocybe genus and optimal fruiting conditions (substrates, temperatures, etc.) For clarity, this isn't intended to be an identification handbook. It's intent is for cultivation.

To my best current knowledge, these are the sections in which specific species fall under:

Section Aztecorum
aztecorum
caeruleorhiza
serbica var. arcana
serbica var. bohemica
serbica var. morovica

Section Caerulescentes (formerly Sect. Cubensae)
niveotropicalis
subaeruginascens
subaeruginascens var. septentrionalis
thaiaerugineomaculans
thaiduplicatocystidiata
wayanadensis

Section Ovoideocystidiata (formerly Sect. Cubensae)
ovoideocystidiata

Section Cordisporae
banderillensis
cordispora
fagicola
guilaretensis
heimii
hoogshagenii*
mammillata
neoxalapensis
pleurocystidiosa
portoricensis
singeri
stametsii
subyungensis
xalapensis
yungensis

Section Cubensae
chuxiongensis
cubensis
indica
maluti
natalensis
ochraceocentrata
pseudoaztecorum
subcubensis

Section Subaeruginosae (formerly Sect. Cyanescens)
allenii
azurescens
cyanescens
makarorae
weraroa
subaeruginosa
subsecotioides nom. prov.

Section Hopii
gandalfiana nom. prov.
hopii
mescaleroensis

Section Mexicanae
caerulescens
gallaeciae (100% match on ITS to tampanensis, but differs through fruiting behavior and geographic location. I'll consider this a different species if full genome is done and it's updated on genbank.)
hoogshagenii
mexicana
ruiliensis
samuiensis
subhoogshagenii
tampanensis

Section Semilanceatae (formerly Sect. Stuntzae)
caeruleoannulata
meridionalis
stuntzii

Section Semilanceatae
alutacea
angulospora
baeocystis
caerulipes
cyanofibrillosa
fuscofulva
fimetaria
hispanica
liniformans
medullosa
pelliculosa
rostrata
semilanceata
silvatica
subfimetaria
tasmaniana
uruguayensis
Galeropsis polytrichoides

Section Zapotecorum
angustipleurocystidiata
antioquiensis
aucklandiae
cinnamomea
collybioides
graveolens
hoogshagenii*
ingeli
keralensis
kumaenorum
moseri
muliercula
papuana
pintonii
subcaerulipes (argentipes)
subtropicalis
taiwanensis
thaizapoteca
zapotecoantillarum
zapotecocaribaea
zapotecorum

Clade 1:
Aztecorum (wood lovers)
Caerulescentes (wood lovers)
Cubensae (dung lovers)
Subaeruginosae (wood lovers)
Hopii (wood lovers)
Ovoideocystidiata (wood lovers)

Clade 2:
Cordisporae (exotics)
Mexicanae (exotics)
Semilanceatae (exotics, dung lovers, wood lovers)
Zapotecorum (exotics)

This list is debatable. Some are synonymous, some are undescribed, and some fall under taxon which are no longer used.
In short, taxonomy is a mess and there is a lot of sorting out to do. Section Stuntzae in particular is a retired taxon. Most of these species now belong to Section Semilanceatae. There are in between areas as well.

Understanding the section in which a specific species belongs, helps to understand fruiting parameters, culture work, and potential natural hybridization.

How I determine fruiting parameters and section:
Inaturalist is a great feature. If you search a species and click "about" it will often say what section it is. This isn't always accurate though. Ps. baeocystis for example was first placed in Section Aztecorum by Guzman. It's actually in Section Semilanceatae, but it's still kind of grey area. This species, along with pelliculosa, caerulipes, etc.(same section,) seems to prefer a more woody substrate, whereas others in the section are dung lovers. I plan to experiment running on a multitude of substrates. Some with wood, some without, some with dung, etc. What further proves baeocystis not belonging to Aztecorum Section is how it's mycelium behaves. This species will not produce rhizomorphs. Everything in Section Aztecorum does.

It's best to look up phylogenetic trees. This isn't always easy finding ones that are up to date though.

You may also notice that pseudoaztecorum is mentioned on inaturalist belonging to Section Aztecorum but it's actually in Section Cubensae. Furthermore, quebecensis is a retired taxon. Study taxonomy enough and you'll realize what a mess it is.

If you then scroll down to "Habitat and distribution" it will describe more about fruiting conditions.

Then click on "Map" (next to the "About" tab, up top.) This will show you were observations took place.

Now go to "Explore."

From here, you can search up species. Make sure you click on the suggestion it gives you in the drop down list, otherwise it doesn't work.
From here you will see all observations made of the species (or suspected species,) starting from most recent. Pay attention to dates these were made and locations. You can Google temperatures of that area during that time. But you also need to pay attention to elevation. If a certain species was found at high elevation, certainly it will be cooler.
Observe the pictures posted. Pay attention to the substrate and surrounding area. Read the notes! Some naturalists, include very detailed notes!

Another great tool is Mushroom Observer, though I'm much less familiar with the navigation of this site.

Undescribed Species

Anything not currently listed on Genbank should be considered undescribed.

Below I'll compile a list of undescribed species. I'm uncertain if some of these species have been decided to be synonymous with already existing species.

Ps. aquamarina (update: California CA03 is now being considered aquamarina. subaeruginascens cf. from Africa is also being considered aquamarina. This would land the species in Section Caerulescentes, ovoideocystidiata, ornin between. I have to do a little digging.)

Limited Information Species

P. caribaea, P. egonii, P. subpsilocybioides, P. zapotecoantillarum and P. zapotecocaribaea

Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

Edited by PhenoDreamers (08/02/26 12:34 PM)

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