MONTHLY FEATURE, Psilocybe allenii : Cyclone Psilocybe Spore Syringe

Spore Works Lab Monthly Feature

On the first day of every month, Spore Works Lab releases a limited quantity of mushroom spore or culture material from rare, interesting, and exotic varieties. These represent the ongoing efforts of our dedicated team towards collection, taxonomy, and species/strain development, and are offered at a discount to encourage further investigation. Your patronage ensures the continued research and development of these wonderful mushroom varieties, thank you for your support. Quantities are limited, as new features will be announced and rotated each month.

Spores provided in sterile aqueous solution using 10cc BD Luer-Lok syringes. One 1.5in 16ga needle will be provided for each spore filled syringe.

Habitat: Wood debris, landscaped areas
Climate: Temperate

Strain Origin: Pacific Coast, USA

Cap: 20 - 40+ mm in diameter, convex to broadly convex to plane at maturity. Very light brown maturing to light yellow to grayish white upon drying. Surface viscid. Flesh white soon bruising bluish green.

Stem: 30 - 70+ mm in length, yellowish. Flesh dramatically bruising bluish green where injured. Partial veil cortinate sometimes leaving an annular zone.

Gills: Attachment adnate to sinuate. Grayish coloration in young fruit bodies becoming purplish brown in maturity.

Spores: 12.0-13.1 microns, purplish brown, subellipsoid.

Comments: First described as a new species in 2012, Psilocybe allenii is named in honor of John W. Allen, who contributed the type specimen. This mushroom is found in northwestern North America, ranging from British Columbia, Canada, to Los Angeles, California, and is most commonly found near the Pacific coast. While closely related to Psilocybe cyanescens, it can be distinguished by its lack of wavy cap margins, a characteristic feature of the latter. Other related species include P. azurescens, P. weraroa, and P. subaeruginosa.

The common name “Cyclone Psilocybe” was coined by Paul Stamets due to an instance in which the mycelium on agar in a petri dish grew in a spiral pattern. This doesn’t appear to be a typical or consistent feature.

Selected References:

Borovicka, J. 2012. Psilocybe allenii – a new bluing species from the Pacific Coast, USA 

* Spores intended for microscopy and taxonomy purposes only. Images provided for informational and educational reference only and originate from cultivators and labs outside the US. Cultivation of this species is illegal in many countries including the United States. Please check your local regulations.