Paneolus blue (Panaeolus cyanescens) photo and description

Blue Paneolus (Panaeolus cyanescens)

• Copelandia cyanescens

Blue Paneolus (Panaeolus cyanescens) is a fungus of the Agariaceae class, Bolbitiaceae family. Belongs to the genus Paneolus.

The fruiting body of the fungus is a hat-legged. The cap is 1.5-4 cm in diameter, in young mushrooms it has a hemispherical shape and edges wrapped up. In mature mushrooms, it becomes bell-shaped, wide, convex, dry to the touch. Caps of young mushrooms are often light brown, but can be completely white. In mature mushrooms, the cap becomes almost completely faded, becoming just white or slightly grayish. Sometimes the caps of a ripe mushroom panaeolus bluish may retain a brownish or yellowish tint. If the mushroom grows in drought conditions, then the surface of its cap is densely covered with cracks. And if fractures and damage appear on its surface, then in these areas the surface acquires a bluish or greenish tint.

The hymenophore of the described fungus is lamellar. Its constituent components – plates, are often located, in young mushrooms they are characterized by a grayish color, and in ripe fruiting bodies they darken, becoming black, covered with spots, but retain light edges. The pulp of this mushroom is characterized by a slight mealy aroma and whitish color, it is very thin and light.

On the territory of Our Country, blue paneolus is common in the Far East, in Primorye, and also in the central European regions. Its active fruiting begins in June, and continues until the end of September. The fungus prefers to grow in meadow pastures, on animal manure, and areas with a grassy landscape.

The blue paneolus belongs to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms, but it can be eaten without harm to health only after a good heat treatment (boiling).

The specific external signs of the fungus and the belonging of the blue paneolus to poisonous, toxic hallucinogenic fruiting bodies do not allow this species to be confused with any other.

Paneolus blue belongs to the category of so-called coprophilous fungi, for the growth of which the presence of organic matter (manure) is necessary. This type of mushroom can be found in temperate, equatorial and tropical zones in both hemispheres. Depending on the geographical location, the described mushroom may contain psychedelics in various concentrations. Cleome contains such psychotropic components as beocystin, psilocin, serotonin, psilocybin, tryptamine. Paneolus blue is known as one of the most powerful psychedelics.