38 replies to this topic

[srgtm1a]

yeah, just from the looks of that, I'd say cubensis, but check bruising, spore print, and gill shots to be sure.

chances are, if they bruise blue and have purple prints...most likely cubes

[Invitro]

A way to test mushrooms for psilocybin
by MushroomJohn (John W. Allen) .

There are, of course, certain chemical applications used to speed up the bluing reaction which occurs in psilocybian mushrooms. One method involves "metol", a chemical used in photographic developing. "Metol" can be legally purchased from any camera and photographic supply outlet. Mix 1 part Metol with 20 parts water. Place the stem of the suspected mushroom in a "metol" solution and wait for approximately 1/2 hour. If the solution turns blue, you have actually collected a mushroom containing psilocybin.

http://www.mushroomj.../guidetext7.htm

[dead_diver]

If those stain blue I would be 99.99% sure they were cubes, but still check the spores to be sure.

[hogwild]

What area did you find them in? Many wise individuals will advise you to only ingest a mushroom if you can identify it yourself. There are many poisonous strains out there. It does look like cubensis, and you should be able to successfully identify it using the methods above, When eating wild mushrooms you have to accept these risk factors. Good luck:eusa_danc

[arezap]

Cubensis are not the only blueing bruise mushroom. I myself found a bolete that stained blue but was unedible.

[srgtm1a]

Cubensis are not the only blueing bruise mushroom. I myself found a bolete that stained blue but was unedible.

Agreed. A lot of boletes bruise blue, some are toxic. If they bruise blue and have a purple print...then I'd say it's a really good chance it's a cube.....bruising blue is not really a good indicator alone.

Stamets actually said that if they share both traits, bruising blue and a purple print, then you are safe. He said he doesn't know of any poisonous mushrooms that share both traits.

[srgtm1a]

To check bruising, pull one of the mushrooms, squeeze the stem, and let sit for 30-60 min. In that time, it should turn a very distinct blue with some slight variations of yellowish/greenish hues on the parts of the stem that were not squeezed as hard.

The base of the stem on this mushroom should give you an idea on the bruising:





To check the spore print...cut a cap off of one of the mushrooms as close to the gills as possible...set down on a piece of paper or foil for a few hours...should get a decent print.

If it bruises blue and has a purple print...chances are you have cubensis.....try to get pictures of the print, the bruising, and shots of the gills and post those.

[panic]

What happened to the pictures?

yeah, enquiring minds wanna know.....I wanna know.

[Hippie3]

he removed it,
his option if within the allowed edit time of 420 minutes.

[panic]

420? coincidence? YOU decide.....lol

[malefacter]

A way to test mushrooms for psilocybin
by MushroomJohn (John W. Allen) .

There are, of course, certain chemical applications used to speed up the bluing reaction which occurs in psilocybian mushrooms. One method involves "metol", a chemical used in photographic developing. "Metol" can be legally purchased from any camera and photographic supply outlet. Mix 1 part Metol with 20 parts water. Place the stem of the suspected mushroom in a "metol" solution and wait for approximately 1/2 hour. If the solution turns blue, you have actually collected a mushroom containing psilocybin.

http://www.mushroomj.../guidetext7.htm

could this be used to determen how mutch psilocybin? say put a mesured amount of metol and a certan amount of shroom and if one is darker than another it has more?

[dead_diver]

There are blue staining boletes in my area but they don't look even remotely like cubes...those in the pic look like cubes to me. If they turn blue and have purple lemon shaped spores I would say you found the real thing.