An Ethnomycological Review of Psychoactive Agarics in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

A comprehensive review is presented of the recreational and accidental ingestion of psychoactive mushrooms in Australia and New Zealand; 15 recognized species are considered from Australia and eight from New Zealand. Common epithets, potency levels, and methods of ingestion are discussed. Legal aspects involving the use of these psychoactive fungi are noted. In addition, medical and psychoactive effects of these mushrooms and treatment for psilocybian mushroom poisoning are described. Numerous case reports, with commentary, are also presented.

Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids

“…aztecorum Singer, 1958aGuzmán, 1978Psilocybe aztecorum var. bonetii Guzmán, 1978Psilocybe baeocystis Mc Cawley et al, 1962Benedict et al, 1962b; Pollock, 1976a;Southcott, 1974;Hall, 1973;McCarthy, 1971 Allen et al, 1991Picker and Rickards, 1970Pollock, 1976aSouthcott,1974;Hall, 1973;McCarthy, 1971;Guzmán et al, 1993Allen et al, 1991 Singer, 1958a;Singer and Smith, 1958;Pollock, 1975 * No information on psilocybin and psilocin in this report ** Allen and Merlin, 1992 Being hard to chew, the dried mushrooms are often brewed into tea. This tea is subsequently drunk, and the mushrooms are then consumed.…”

“…The first livestock arrived in Australia at the end of the 1700's. While the importation of cattle may have been responsible for introducing some hallucinogenic mushrooms, there are at least five indigenous species (Allen et al, 1991).…”

“…Some of the specific species in addition to being called magic mushrooms have received their own name, which varies from geographical region to geographical region or between the local drug circles. The habit of using hallucinogenic mushrooms in Australia most probably was brought to the island by surfers moving from America to Australia (Allen et al, 1991).…”

“…The mushroom so dried may be stored for a very long time, without loosing too much of its activity, if stored at lower temperatures (Hall, 1973). Pollock, 1976a;Southcott, 1974;Hall, 1973;McCarthy, 1971 Gymnophilus Cooles, 1980;Pollock, 1976a;Holden, 1965;Ott, 1978Southcott, 1974Guzman et al, 1976*;Allen et al, 1991** Panaelous cyanescens Lincoff andMitchell, 1977. Allen et al, 1991**;Pollock, 1974Pollock, , 1976Ott, 1978Panaelous papilionnaceus Pollock, 1974Sanford, 1972Panaeolus sphincrinus Ott, 1975Schultes, 1939;Pollock, 1975Panaeolus subbalteatus Guzmán et al, 1976Pollock, 1976;Allen et al, 1991 Panaelous (Copelandia) Guzmán et al, 1993Allen et al, 1991Psilocybe aztecorum var.…”

“…In Australia, the non-traditional use of psychoactive mushrooms became popular sometime between 1969 and 1975, whereas they became popular in New Zealand a few years later (Allen et al, 1991). This development stimulated a legislative develop-ment in the area, but the laws differ over the country as drug abuse legislation and enforcement systems are approved for each (nine) individual Australian State or Territory individually.…”