Variety profile
Psilocybe azurescens
Pacific Northwest history · Wood-associated ecology · Modern genomic context
Psilocybe azurescens is a well-known name in the wood-associated Psilocybe literature. Its historical description emphasizes caramel caps with a persistent central bump, pale slender stems, and strong blueing.
Lineage & history
Stamets and Gartz formally described the name in 1995. Their account records an original 1979 Astoria, Oregon collection and a 1993 type specimen deposited at WTU. These are dates in the taxonomic record, not a provenance certificate for this culture. [1] [2]
Appearance & identifying traits
- Cap coloration: Chestnut-brown to ochraceous brown to caramel, fading lighter as it dries
- Cap shape: Conic to convex when young, expanding with maturity while usually retaining a broad, pronounced umbo
- Cap texture: Smooth and viscid when moist, with a separable gelatinous pellicle
- Margin: Often slightly incurved when young, later decurved; translucent striations may appear in moist specimens
- Stem: Long, fibrous, silky white to dingy brown with age, often curved and thickened toward the base
- Base: Frequently shows dense white rhizomorphic mycelium and azure-toned bruising near attached woody material
- Bruising: Strong blue oxidation upon handling or tissue damage
Reported appearance varies between specimens. Mature cap, stem, gill, and spore traits are not structures present in a liquid-culture syringe.
Microscopy & pigmentation
- Original spore measurements: Approximately 12–13.5 × 6.5–8 μm in the original description. [1]
- Spore deposit: Dark purplish-brown to purplish-black in the historical account.
- Tissue features: The description includes abundant clamp connections and flask-like cystidia; a combination of features supports comparison.
Research & genetic context
A 2024 population study found Northern Hemisphere azurescens and cyanescens samples nested among Australian P. subaeruginosa, supporting the interpretation that these names represent the same biological species. [3] The azurescens name remains useful for tracing older literature and labeled genomic material. A 2025 publication includes an azurescens draft genome among five Psilocybe taxa. [4]
Reported characteristics
- Ecology: The historical literature describes wood-debris-associated, temperate coastal material.
- Taxonomic context: Modern species-boundary research should accompany the older azurescens name.
- Comparison: Wood-associated Psilocybe and dung-associated cubensis should not be treated as the same ecological group.
Liquid culture & care
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References & research notes
- Stamets & Gartz — original azurescens description, archived text
- Species Fungorum — azurescens name record
- McTaggart et al. (2024) — wood-associated Psilocybe population study
- Bollinger et al. (2025) — draft genomes of five Psilocybe taxa
Sources reviewed September 11, 2026. Peer-reviewed studies, taxonomic records, and attributed community history serve different purposes. Research on named specimens is not a certificate of analysis or genetic authentication for this product. Supplier accounts were compared where useful; no external culture-seller links are included in these references.
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