Psilocybe baeocystis

Psilocybe baeocystis is named for its characteristic rippled cap, with baeo-cystis translating to “small-bladder”, something the fungus resembles when fresh. It is more frequently found under the aliases of “bottle caps”, “knobby tops”, “blue bells” or “olive caps”; all references to the various traits of the cap. Along with the wavy ripples, the cap easily bruises from a chestnut-brown, olive-green to a metallic dark blue when handled or old Psilocybe baeocystis.

A relative oddity concerning this species is that its potency is markedly higher when fresh, usually diminishing to at least half with drying. We may attribute this to the top levels of baeocystin, a psychoactive analog of psilocybin, that can degrade with age and lower humidity. This compound, common within Psilocybe but usually at much lower levels, is named for the mushroom itself, it first being found and characterized from the species.

Along with the compound that shares its namesake, P. baeocystis also boosts levels of psilocin that place it in the top three. While the amount of psilocybin ranks near P. cubensis, moderate to low, this species also contains a small but effective quantity of norbaeocystin, a similar alkaloid to the rest. All combined, this makes for a very potent mushroom when fresh: a large dose would be 1-3 mushrooms or up to five grams. When dried, a sample of only one gram can produce vivid effects.

Due to both the overall potency of the species and the specific importance of the freshness of the fruiting bodies, P. baeocystis is a rare but helpful choice for home cultivation. It is relatively variable in its tolerance for substrate: peat, mulches, and humus-based stock may be suitable options. While they may be confused with similar species such as P. aztecorum, P. quebecensis or P. cyanescens, they are a common wild cultivar primarily to attain their maximum freshness.

P. baeocystis are not uncommon in their natural range of the Pacific Northwest of North America. More rarely and recently, we have discovered them on the East Coast, in the states of Maine and Connecticut in the United States. They grow naturally within one hundred kilometers of the coastline, however, deviations are not rare. Depending on the specific location, we may find them as early as late June, and as late as December in particularly warm autumns or winters.

Easing discovery, this species is frequently out in the open, in lawns and sparse forests. We may also find them near ornamental plants, preferring rose bushes and rhododendrons in particular. For those lucky enough to locate this fungus naturally, something commonly found it near Psilocybe cousins, P. stuntzii and P. cyanescens, all of which can produce hallucinogenic effects to varying degrees. P. baeocystis can be differentiated in part by their likelihood to grow root-like “rhizomorphs” near the base of the stipe and a sticky and often separable layer that covers the cap known as a “pellicle”.

This species defined a common compound that contributes to the “magic” of Psilocybe mushrooms. Either dried or, for the lucky explorer, they ensured fresh samples to provide an intense experience. Buy Psilocybe baeocystis online for microdosing.