…may just be too many! Magic mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes, with variations in strength, compositions, and additional effects. But they all have one thing in common: Psilocybin, the main hallucinogenic alkaloid found in all magic mushrooms. Although all magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, which is not thought to be toxic, not all magic mushrooms are the same. Some species contain other substances that are toxic, while others do not; some species can make you unwell, while others can cause organ failure. Therefore, it is extremely important for wild mushroom hunters to know exactly what they are doing. Now that you know there is so much variation, you may be wondering how many species there are?
PLANT GENUS: PSILOCYBE
Of all the types of magic mushrooms, the Psilocybe is the most popular and well-known. This collection of mushrooms includes an extensive list, with at least 245 different species. This includes the hugely popular Psilocybe cubensis and its many variations that are part of our grow kit catalog. And this brings us to the next point: Each of these 245 different species have sub-varieties, which only increases the number. The three most commonly consumed species of Psilocybe mushrooms are: Psilocybe cubensis: Perhaps THE most common form of magic mushroom, especially within the psychedelic community. Psilocybe cubensis, compared to other types of magic mushrooms, is on the large side and is also known as ‘Golden Cap’. Psilocybe semilanceata: Often found in damp grassy areas, this variant is small, powerful and hugely popular. Psilocybe semilanceata is also known as ‘Liberty Cap’. Psilocybe baeocystis: Also known as “Blue Bell” and “Bottle Cap”. Psilocybe baeocystis often prefers rotting tree trunks to grow on.
THE OTHER GENERA
The Psilocybe genus of magic mushrooms is extensive, but it is not the only one. To get a good idea of the vast amount of different types of magic mushrooms, you should also consider the other genera of magic mushrooms besides the Psilocybe genus. These are: – Conocybe- Copelandia- Galerina- Gymnopilus- Inocybe- Mycena- Panaeolina- Panaeolus- Pholiotina- Pluteus While each of these genera cannot compete with Psilocybe in terms of the amount of species the genera contain, each does have some species that contain psilocybin and other psychoactive substances. This does not claim that they are all suitable for human consumption, as many contain substances that are harmful, but technically they are all “magical.” So how many types of magic mushrooms are there now? It depends on what you mean by species. There are 11 known genera of magic mushrooms, but they all contain many species and each species probably has many variations. The numbers run into the hundreds, if not thousands, and these are just the ones that have been discovered. Recently, another new species of magic mushroom was discovered and more will be discovered. We still have so much to learn!
