Contents
Psilocybe Montana belongs to the Strophariaceae family. It has a second name – mountain psilocybe.
What does Psilocybe Montana look like?
Psilocybe Montana is a fairly small mushroom. To protect your health, it is important to be able to distinguish this instance and bypass it.
The very appearance of the mushroom is reminiscent of its inedibility.
Cap Description
The cap is small in diameter, from 6 to 25 mm, the width exceeds the height by 2 times. As it grows, its shape changes from semicircular to elongated semicircle. Above there is a distinct tubercle.
While the mushroom is young, the hat is in the shape of half a hemisphere. It may be slightly elongated, with a distinct tubercle in the center. The surface of the cap is glossy and smooth. Color may be affected by weather conditions. Depending on climatic factors, the color also changes: glossy brown when wet, brown-gray when dry. Hat with notches, thinly fleshy. Inside there are plates that are attached to the leg.
As the plates grow, they may change color.
Description of the leg
Mushroom leg thin, cylindrical, curved, smooth, with a slight thickening towards the bottom. Height from 2,5 to 8 cm, diameter is only about 0,3 cm.
The leg has a brownish-pale color. Velvety is observed along its top, which is created by whitish-transparent fibers. The leg ring is missing.
These mushrooms sometimes appear in the vicinity of St. Petersburg
Where and how to grow
Psilocybe Montana most often grows:
- in forests;
- in wooded areas;
- on soils with a predominance of sand;
- in areas covered with mosses;
- among the ferns.
Fruiting occurs in 2 stages. The first – from the end of May to July, the second – from August to the end of autumn.
In some climatic regions, Psilocybe Montana can be found even at the beginning of winter.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Psilocybe Montana is a poisonous mushroom. Contains psychoactive substances that cause severe hallucinations, affect the psyche, provoke heart disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, a feeling of tremor, a feeling of anxiety. Eating is strictly prohibited.
This type of mushroom often grows in groups.
Mushroom lookalikes
There are many doppelgangers. All of them are dangerous to human health:
- Stropharia shitty (Kakashkina’s bald head). The mushroom is small in size, but very dangerous. Use is strictly prohibited.
- Psilocybe mexican. The fungus itself is not poisonous, but it has a strong negative effect on the central nervous system.
- Paneolus blue (Panaeolus cyanescens). It grows in meadows and pastures, among a large amount of manure. It is considered one of the most psychotropic mushrooms.
- psilocybe czech (Psilocybe bohemica). It grows in deciduous or pine forests on rotting branches. Eating causes fainting, panic, loss of coordination. Promotes the death of brain cells.
- Psilocybe bluish (Psilocybe cyanescens). A small mushroom that lives in forests, meadows, usually not far from roads. They are classified as poisonous. After use, hearing and vision are impaired, a person feels pain in the stomach, feels chills.
- sulfur head (Hyphaloma cyanescens). A tiny specimen, very toxic, listed in the category of poisonous. In addition, it leads to severe hallucinations, a change in the psyche, a person simply loses touch with reality.
- Psilocybe cubensis (San Isidro). It grows exclusively in Central America, where it grows among manure.
Conclusion
Psilocybe Montana or mountain is a very small specimen. Belongs to the category of poisonous mushrooms. Contains psychotropic substances and hallucinogens. Eating is strictly prohibited.