Hallucinogenic mushrooms on the German market - simple instructions for examination and identification

'Magic mushrooms' is the name most commonly given to psychoactive fungi con taining the hallucinogenic components psilocybin and psilocin. Material con fiscated by local authorities was examined using morphologic, microscopic, microchemical, and toxicological methods. Psilocybe cubensis was the most p opular mushroom in the sample collective, followed by Psilocybe semilanceat a, Panaeolus cyanescens and Psilocybe tampanensis. The alkaloid content was determined with <0.003-1.15% of psilocybin and 0.01-0.90% psilocin. Panaeo lus cyanescens was the mushroom with highest levels of psilocybin and psilo cin. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.