Psilocybe australiana

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Psilocybe australiana is a species of psychoactive mushroom found in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Commonly found growing on Eucalyptus and pine mulch,^[1] as well as on soil with wood or leafy debris, on tracks and roadsides, in Pinus radiata plantations, or in temperate rain forests.^[2] The mushroom was originally discovered by Gaston Guzman and Roy Watling.^[3] Further research by New Zealand mycologist Peter Buchanan has shown Psilocybe australiana to be a variant of Psilocybe subaeruginosa^[1]

Commonly it is large umbonated mushroom with a sharp nipple, orangy brown hydrophanous cap, often with a margin flecked with white veil remnants and strongly visible radial lines. The stem is a strong white with a consistent radius, chestnust brown when the flesh is broken. The gills are very crowded, whitish brown soon dark chocolate brown and ascending towards the stem. Cap and stem often spotted with dark blue stains, and flesh quickly stains bluish/black upon damage. (left image)^[1]

References

Further reading

• The genus Psilocybe (Agaricales) in New Zealand, Peter R. Johnston and Peter K Buchanan, New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1995, Vol. 33: 379-388.