Panaeolus olivaceus

What You Should Know

Panaeolus olivaceus is a widely distributed, seldom identified, little brown mushroom that contains the hallucinogen psilocybin; it is often mistaken for Panaeolina foenisecii and is distinguished by its black spore print and darker gill coloration when mature alongside a slightly thicker stem. It is even more easily mistaken for Panaeolus cinctulus or Panaeolus fimicola and can be distinguished from them both by its slightly roughened spores. It is also easily confused with Panaeolina castaneifolia, a species that has spores that are dark brown and significantly more roughened.

Panaeolus castaneifolius is a synonym.

Panaeolus olivaceus Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   1— 3(4) cm across, distinctly campanulate then subhemispheric to convex, becoming broadly conic, not fully expanding, incurved margin when young, dark smoky-grayish to dark cinnamon, drying to a straw-yellow or slightly olive-gray color, remaining more reddish-brown towards the center, hygrophanous, smooth, sometimes striated or finely corrugated, flesh thick and firm.

2. Gills

   Adnate to adnexed, close, thin, pallid, mottled, slightly olive-greenish, becoming dark purplish gray-black in age, edge whitish.

3. Stipe

   4— 6(7.5) cm by 3— 4(6) mm thick, equal to slightly tapering at the base, hollow, brittle, pruinose and slightly striate, no veil remnants. Grayish to ochraceous, tan or purple at the base.

4. Spores

   Black, slightly roughened, 12 — 15(17) x 7 — 8.5(10) micrometers, elliptic, rugose or verrucose.

5. Microscopic Features

   Basidia 24 — 28 x 10 - 12 micrometers. Cheilocystidia (20)24— 30(38) x (5)7 — 10 micrometers, abundant, neck often flexuous and apices usually obtuse, thin-walled and hyaline, pleurocystidia rare or absent, not projecting beyond the plane of basidia.

6. Habitat

   Panaeolus olivaceus grows scattered to gregariously in rich grassy areas, from late summer through December, across North and South America, likely more widely distributed; it has been collected in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Minnesota, Canada's Quebec, New Zealand and in the United Kingdom.

7. Season

   Late summer through December.

Panaeolus olivaceus Effects

P. olivaceous is only psychoactive sometimes, so eating a specimen with no psilocybin in it has no known effects. It is not known to be toxic, and is therefore probably healthy to eat, just like other edible mushrooms—though this one is too small to be of much use in the kitchen. The taste has not been commented on (though many “magic” mushrooms taste like flour, so it may, too).

When psilocybin is present, it causes the same effects psilocybin usually does—changes in mood and thought pattern, as well as nausea and sometimes more serious symptoms. Hallucinations are common with psilocybin at higher doses, but getting there with this species might require eating a lot of mushrooms.

Psilocybin is used recreationally, but it’s also used as a means to gain spiritual and personal insight, as well as to treat a range of ailments, from anxiety to migraine headaches. Because the use or possession of psilocybin is against US Federal law, there has been almost no clinical research on whether these treatments work (most psilocybin research has looked at who uses it for what and whether they self-report success). However, some users say the substance has helped them even when more standard treatment couldn’t.

Panaeolus olivaceus Dosage

There is no way to calculate the recommended dosage for something with a psilocybin content that is sometimes zero.

With that being said, if you want to try and find a dose that works for you, check out our general magic mushroom dosage guide. You can also try out our magic mushroom dosage calculator where you can choose between six dosage levels, including microdose and heroic dose.

Popular methods of consumption for Panaeolus olivaceus include Lemon Tek and Shroom Tea.

Sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Byrain (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)

Photo 2 - Author: Ieponumos (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)

Photo 3 - Author: Byrain (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)

Photo 4 - Author: Ieponumos (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)