Mexican Cub Magic Mushroom

Mycological characteristics

This mushroom has several unique mycological features. Its gills are found on the hymenium, and it has a cap that is either conical or umbonate in shape. The gills are adnate, meaning they are broadly attached to the stipe, which is bare and lacks any ring or volva. The spore print is a distinctive purple-brown, which is a key identification feature. Ecologically, it is saprotrophic, thriving on decomposing organic matter. Notably, this mushroom is psychoactive, containing compounds that can alter perception and mood.

Psychoactive mushrooms, often referred to as “magic mushrooms,” contain compounds like psilocybin and psilocin. These compounds can alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes.

Key points about their psychoactive properties:

Psilocybin and Psilocin:
These are the main psychoactive substances found in certain mushrooms. Psilocybin is transformed into psilocin in the body, which then influences the brain.

Effects:
Users might experience changes in sensory perception, feelings of euphoria, visual and auditory hallucinations, and altered thought patterns. The intensity and nature of these effects can vary depending on the dose, individual physiology, and the environment.

Duration:
The effects usually start within 20 to 40 minutes after ingestion and can persist for 4 to 6 hours, with some lingering effects lasting even longer.

Therapeutic Potential:
Recent research indicates that psilocybin may offer therapeutic benefits for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD when administered in controlled environments.

Potential Risks:
Although many users have positive experiences, there are potential negative effects, including anxiety, paranoia, and confusion. It’s crucial to approach these substances with caution and be aware of their legal status in your area.

Psilocybe mexicana is a psychedelic mushroom that has been used for over 2,000 years by the indigenous peoples of North and Central America. The Aztecs referred to it as teonanácatl, which translates from Nahuatl to “god fungus” (teotl meaning “god” and nanácatl meaning “fungus”). This species was first classified by the French botanist Roger Heim.

Dr. Albert Hofmann, utilizing specimens cultivated in his Sandoz laboratory, was the first to isolate and name the active psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin from this species.

The Botany and Chemistry of Hallucinogens:

Psilocybe mexicana belongs to the species Mexicanae. Other mushrooms in this genus include Psilocybe atlantis and Psilocybe samuiensis. In 2013, Ramirez-Cruz et al. suggested that Psilocybe acutipilea from Brazil might be a synonym for Psilocybe mexicana. However, the type specimen was too moldy to confirm this definitively.

Description

The cap of Psilocybe mexicana typically ranges from 1 to 2 cm in diameter, though it can sometimes be as small as 0.5 cm or as large as 3 cm. It has a conic to bell-shaped appearance, often with a slight bump in the center. The cap is hygrophanous, meaning it changes color as it loses moisture, and can be smooth or slightly striated at the edges. Its color varies from ocherous to brown or beige to straw as it ages, and it may show blue or greenish tones. Notably, it turns blue easily when injured.

The gills of Psilocybe mexicana are either adnate or adnexed, and they range in color from gray to purple-brown with whitish edges. The spore print is dark purple-brown. The stipe, or stem, is about 4 to 10 (sometimes up to 12.5) cm tall and 1 to 2 (occasionally 3) mm thick. It’s hollow, straw-colored to brownish or reddish-brown, and gets darker when injured. There’s no annulus (ring) present.

This mushroom has a farinaceous (mealy) odor and taste. Under the microscope, the spores are 8 to 12 by 5 to 8 micrometers, ovoid, and smooth. The cheilocystidia (cells on the gill edge) are 13 to 34 micrometers, fusoid-ampullaceous to sublageniform, sometimes with a forked neck. Pleurocystidia (cells on the gill face) are sublageniform or absent.

Interestingly, Psilocybe mexicana can form sclerotia, which are dormant structures that help protect it from wildfires and other natural disasters.

Distribution and habitat
Psilocybe mexicana typically grows alone or in small groups, often found nestled among moss along roadsides and trails. You’ll also spot them in humid meadows or cornfields, especially in the grassy areas near deciduous forests. They thrive at elevations between 300 and 550 meters (980 to 1,800 feet) and are quite rare at lower elevations. These mushrooms are native to Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala, and they usually fruit from May to October.

Consumption and cultivation

Just like other psilocybin mushrooms, Psilocybe mexicana has been used by indigenous North American peoples for its mind-altering effects. If you’re thinking about cultivating Psilocybe mexicana, there are a few key steps to follow for a successful harvest.

This species loves subtropical climates and is often found in grassy areas and meadows. To start, you’ll need to prepare a nutrient-rich substrate, like a mix of rye grain and vermiculite, and sterilize it to get rid of any contaminants. Then, under sterile conditions, inoculate the substrate with spores and keep the mixture in a dark, warm place to encourage mycelium growth.

Once the substrate is fully colonized, transfer it to a fruiting chamber with high humidity and indirect light to stimulate mushroom development. Regular monitoring and maintaining the right conditions are crucial for a successful harvest of Psilocybe mexicana mushrooms.

With Mushroom Magik Growing Kits, it’s easy!

Even beginners can easily cultivate Mexican Cub Mushrooms.

Pre innoculated and sterilized.

The growing process

1. Open the grow tent.
2. Mist the inside surface walls generously (but avoid oversaturating).
3. Mist the surface of the jar until it’s covered in fine water droplets (again, avoid oversaturating).
4. Place the tub inside the grow tent, fold the top over, and secure it with paperclips.
5. Position the kit in an area with indirect sunlight and maintain a moderately warm temperature (21-24°C is recommended).

Maintenance:
Open the top of the grow tent regularly.
Air and mist the inside of the tent until fine droplets cover the sides and surface.

After the second or third flush, the cake can be broken into pasturized coco coir or manure subsrate, either outdoors or in sterilized plastic tubs. Left to colonise and fruit on it’s own.

Mexican Cub Mushrooms generally require 4 to 6 weeks to grow from the initial setup to harvest. This duration can vary based on factors such as temperature, humidity, and light conditions. Maintaining a stable environment with the recommended temperature range of 21-24°C and proper misting will help achieve optimal results.

Grab your very own, easy-to-grow Mexican Cub Grow Kit from Mushroom Magik today