Inocybe aeruginascens
Encyclopedia
Inocybe aeruginascens is a member of the genus Inocybe
which is widely distributed in Europe. The species was first documented by J. Ferencz in Osca, Hungary on June 15, 1965.
with a conic to convex cap which becomes plane in age and is often fibrillose near the margin. It is usually less than 5 cm across, has a slightly darker blunt umbo and an in incurved margin when young. The cap color varies from buff to light yellow brown, usually with greenish stains which disappear when the mushroom dries. The gills are adnate to nearly free, numerous, colored pale brown, grayish brown, or tobacco brown. The fruiting body has greenish tones and bruises blue where damaged. The spores are smooth and ellipsoid, measuring 6-9.5 x 4.5 micrometres and forming a clay brown spore print. The stem is 2–7 cm long, 3 to 8 mm thick, and is equal width for the whole length, sometimes with some swelling at the base. It is solid, pale grey, becoming bluish green from the bottom up. The stem is fibrous and appears to be covered with fine powder near the top. It has a partial veil which often disappears in age and an unpleasant soapy odor.
information exists on Inocybe aeruginascens currently, however a minimum of "23 unintentional intoxications" were reported in 1982 by Drewitz and Babos. Unintentional consumption could be due to the similarity of Marasmius oreades
. The symptoms of "intoxication" were hallucinogenic, leading Gartz and Drewitz to eventually discover the first source of psilocybin
in any Inocybe species. There are no known deaths directly related to consumption, however edibility is not yet conclusive.
, psilocin
, baeocystin
, as well a newly discovered indoleamine 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine
. Jochen Gartz named this new substance aeruginascin
after the mushroom species. Aeruginascin is the N-trimethyl analogue
of psilocybin
. Inocybe aeruginascens is the only known natural source of aeruginascin.
Inocybe
Inocybe is a large, complex genus of mushrooms. Members of Inocybe are mycorrhizal, and some evidence shows that the high degree of speciation in the genus is due to adaptation to different trees and perhaps even local environments.-Description:...
which is widely distributed in Europe. The species was first documented by J. Ferencz in Osca, Hungary on June 15, 1965.
Description
Inocybe aeruginascens is a small mycorrhizal mushroomMushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
with a conic to convex cap which becomes plane in age and is often fibrillose near the margin. It is usually less than 5 cm across, has a slightly darker blunt umbo and an in incurved margin when young. The cap color varies from buff to light yellow brown, usually with greenish stains which disappear when the mushroom dries. The gills are adnate to nearly free, numerous, colored pale brown, grayish brown, or tobacco brown. The fruiting body has greenish tones and bruises blue where damaged. The spores are smooth and ellipsoid, measuring 6-9.5 x 4.5 micrometres and forming a clay brown spore print. The stem is 2–7 cm long, 3 to 8 mm thick, and is equal width for the whole length, sometimes with some swelling at the base. It is solid, pale grey, becoming bluish green from the bottom up. The stem is fibrous and appears to be covered with fine powder near the top. It has a partial veil which often disappears in age and an unpleasant soapy odor.
Distribution and habitat
Inocybe aeruginascens is widely distributed in temperate areas and has been reported in central Europe and western North America. It grows in moist sandy soils in a mycorrhizal relationship with poplar, linden, oak and willow trees.Edibility
No toxicologyToxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
information exists on Inocybe aeruginascens currently, however a minimum of "23 unintentional intoxications" were reported in 1982 by Drewitz and Babos. Unintentional consumption could be due to the similarity of Marasmius oreades
Marasmius oreades
Marasmius oreades is also known as the scotch bonnet or fairy ring mushroom. The latter name tends to cause some confusion, as many other mushrooms grown in fairy rings .-Distribution and habitat:Marasmius oreades grows extensively throughout North America...
. The symptoms of "intoxication" were hallucinogenic, leading Gartz and Drewitz to eventually discover the first source of psilocybin
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
in any Inocybe species. There are no known deaths directly related to consumption, however edibility is not yet conclusive.
Biochemistry
Inocybe aeruginascens contains the formerly known alkaloids psilocybinPsilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
, psilocin
Psilocin
Psilocin , an aromatic compound, sometimes also spelled psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin, is a psychedelic mushroom alkaloid. It is found in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin...
, baeocystin
Baeocystin
Baeocystin is a mushroom alkaloid and analog of the psychedelic hallucinogenic drug psilocybin, a tryptamine derivative. It is found as a minor compound in most psychoactive mushrooms together with psilocybin, norbaeocystin, and psilocin...
, as well a newly discovered indoleamine 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine
Tryptamine
Tryptamine is a monoamine alkaloid found in plants, fungi, and animals. It is based around the indole ring structure, and is chemically related to the amino acid tryptophan, from which its name is derived...
. Jochen Gartz named this new substance aeruginascin
Aeruginascin
Aeruginascin or N,N,N-trimethyl-4-phosphoryloxytryptamine is a indoleamine derivative which occurs naturally only within the mushroom Inocybe aeruginascens. Aeruginascin is the N-trimethyl analogue of psilocybin...
after the mushroom species. Aeruginascin is the N-trimethyl analogue
Analog (chemistry)
In chemistry, a structural analog , also known as chemical analog or simply analog, is a compound having a structure similar to that of another one, but differing from it in respect of a certain component. It can differ in one or more atoms, functional groups, or substructures, which are replaced...
of psilocybin
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
. Inocybe aeruginascens is the only known natural source of aeruginascin.