Fresenius, G. (1852) Beitrage zur Trichotecium”. Akad. Nauk, Azerb. ekosystemakh Kazakhstana. Alma-Ata, Mykologie. (Heft 1-2), 1,-80. Frankfurt, S.S.R. 20: 65-71. USSR, “Nauka” Kazakhskoi SSR. A. M. Pandey, V.S. (1973) “Predatory activity Rodríguez, E.J.R., Mendoza G.P, Larsen, M., Wolstrup, J., Henriksen, of nematode-trapping fungus against Liébano, H.E, López, M.E, Cid, S. A., Dackman, C., Grønvold, J. the larvae of Trichostrongylus axei P.I, Franco, N.F, López, M.V., & Nansen, P. (1991) “In vitro stress and Ostertagia ostertagi: a possible (2007). “In vitro predatory activity selection of nematophagous fungi for method of biological control”. Journal of “cannibal” nematodes against biocontrol of parasitic nematodes in of Helminthology 37, 339-342. Haemonchus contortus and Rhabditis ruminants”. Journal of Helminthology Pryadko, E. I. & Osipov, P. P. (1986) sp.”. Proceedings of the WAAVP 21st 65, 193-200. “Trials of nematophagous fungi in International Conference, Reference. Llerandi-Juárez, J. R. D. & Mendoza- field conditions”. Biologicheskaya 1, 282, Edited by E. Claerebout and J. de Gives, P. (1998). “Resistance of p.30-33. Vercruysse. 19th-23rd August Gent, Belgium. p. 273. nematophagous fungi chlamydospores Pryadko, E.I., Shol, V.A., Isabaev, to the digestive processes of sheep in M.I.& Shaltaeva, K.B. (1985) Tribe, H.T. (1980) “Prospects for the Mexico”. Journal of Helminthology, “Nematophagous fungi as a biological biological control of plant-parasitic 72, 155-158. control agent of nematode infections in nematodes”. Parasitology 81, 619- López Arellano, Ma. E., Mendoza de farm animals”. pp.186-201. In: Gvozdev, 639. Gives, P., Vázquez, P.,V.M., Liébano, E.V. (Ed.) Gel’minty zhivotnykh v Hernández, E., Bravo de la Parra, A., Herrera Rodríguez, D., Godínez, E., Várgas, P., Zamudio, F. (2006) “Use of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin as an alternative method of control against Haemonchus contortus”. Annals of the New York Academy of Science. 347-354. Mendoza de Gives, P., Davies, K.G., Morgan, M. & Behnke, J.M. (1999) “Attachment test of Pasteuria penetrans to the cuticle of plant and animal parasitic nematodes, free- living nematodes and srf mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans”. Journal of Helminthology, 73, 67-71. Mendoza de Gives, P. Zapata Nieto, C., Liébano Hernández, E., López Arellano, Ma. E., Herrera Rodríguez, D. & González-Garduño, R. (2006) “Biological Control of Gastro- intestinal Parasitic Nematodes Using Duddingtonia flagrans in Sheep under Natural Conditions in Mexico”. Annals of the New York Academy of Science. 355-359.67-71. Mekhtieva, N.A. (1964) “Critical Gymnopilus junonius (=spectabilis), illustration from The Book of Fungi (see review p. 52). The observations of predatory species of illustrators are Adam Hook and Coral Mula.

36 Winter-Spring 2011, Mushroom the Journal Setting the Story Straight: The Legality of Gymnopilus Species by JANEL N. SCHIETZELT and CAROLYN G. O’CONNOR

Gary Lincoff’s recent book species contain the hallucinogenic of free radicals, which has been used The Complete Mushroom Hunter compound psilocybin. If ingested, to help treat medical issues such as includes a chapter on hallucinogenic the psilocybin found in Gymnopilus influenza, diabetes, some cancers, mushrooms. In one section, he junonius causes vivid hallucinations, and certain stomach problems (Lee et describes the hallucinogenic dizziness, abnormally colored vision, al., 2008). Hispidin is a valuable and mushroom Gymnopilis spectabilis anxiety, and distortion of time medically beneficial compound, and (now called Gymnopilus junonius). (Hatfield et al., 1978). The amount of in accordance with Gary Lincoff’s He states, “The big laughing gym, psilocybin in a sample of Gymnopilus book there are no laws to date Gymnopilus spectabilis, contains junonius varies with location. Hatfield regarding its possession or use. hispidin, a compound about which (1978) assayed thirteen collections in However, one should not be misled no laws have been written to date North America for psilocybin and into believing that the possession regarding its possession or use”. only four collections tested positive. or use of Gymnopilus junonius is Although there are known benefits to Interestingly, the collections from legal. Although Gymnopilus junonius hispidin, possession of the mushroom Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, contains the legal and medically itself is illegal. The following short and Ontario tested positive, whereas advantageous compound hispidin, it response sets the facts straight on no specimen from more Western also contains the illegal hallucinogenic this issue. locations tested positive. Additionally, psilocybin and its active metabolite Gymnopilus junonius is widely none of the collections tested from psilocin. These hallucinogenic distributed throughout the world, Europe contain psilocybin (Hatfield chemicals are not just illegal in the et al., 1978). Literature dating back including throughout the Eastern th low-level sense that cigarette smoking and Western United States. It tends to the 12 century has documented by a minor is. They are listed as to grow in small clusters around the the hallucinogenic properties of Schedule I drugs according to the base of tree stumps or on decaying Gymnopilus species in Japan, and Controlled Substances Act of 1970 – hardwood logs. The diameter of the although the principal compound drugs which are officially considered cap ranges from 5-40 cm, the stipe is responsible for this feature has not to have no legitimate medical use and 3-25 cm in length, and the caps are been determined (Masayasu, 1993), it no safe dosage,1 and which (along bright yellow to orange color when is believed to be psilocybin (Kusano with the Schedule 2 drugs) carry the young, but rusty orangish brown et al., 1986). most severe penalties. Even though with maturity (Stamets, 1996). It Psilocybin is not the only substance the amount of psilocybin can be has a pleasant sweet-fruity odor that present in Gymnopilus junonius. This variable or even absent depending on is slightly spicy. mushroom also contains hispidin, a Gymnopilus junonius and related natural antioxidant and a scavenger (continued on p. 45)

1 The “no safe dose” part is a bit ridiculous, as almost all hallucinogens – psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, and petyote for example – are Schedule 1 drugs, and they are among the least toxic of all biologically active compounds. But as far as the legal system is concerned, this is what you’ll be dealing with if busted.

Winter-Spring 2011, Mushroom the Journal 37 the rains had come, and then saw displaying 291 species of mushrooms (Gymnopilus: setting the story none for the rest of the fall. Russulas at our fall show, a record number for straight, continued from p. 37) are normally the first markers of our club. the fall season here, and the crop The fall continued to be strange the specimen, the usage or possession was paltry, indeed. Surveying the for the mushrooms. Every time it forest areas that I know, there were of Gymnopilus junonius, at least the warmed up and rained, a few day specimens from the more Eastern very few indicators that we were later, there would be another fruiting moving toward what normally is states that contain the psychoactive of Chroogomphus tomentosus, as if substances, is illegal. the zenith of the mushroom season. there was a reset, and the season I was somewhat heartened by the was getting ready to start. It seemed References: discovery of some decent numbers of as though some mushrooms were Hatfield, G. M., Brady, L.R., (1969). Chroogomphus tomentosus, one of the about two months behind, and “Occurrence of bis-noryangonin in markers for the impending emergence others were so confused, they just Gymnopilus spectabilis”. Journal of of other mushrooms that we look took the year off. Long after hard pharmaceutical sciences, 58 (10), 1298-9. forward to seeing, such as chanterelles frosts, and some snow, I spotted some Hatfield, G. M., Valdes, L. J., Smith, A. and lowland boletes. The boletes mushrooms growing in a wooded H. (1978). “The Occurrence of Psilocybin never came, but chanterelles were knoll that I walk past every day. It in Gymnopilus Species”. LIoydia, 41 (2), present in great quantity, which also was January 9th, and I was curious as 140-144. turned out to be anomalous this year. to what they could be. Upon closer Kusano, G., Koike, Y. Inoue, H., Nozoe, It was a year that the mycorrhizal inspection, I saw that they were S. (1986). “The constituents ofGymnopilus mushrooms seemed collectively, to Cantherellus tubaeiformis, the yellow spectabilis”. Chemicaland pharmaceutical take off. foot chanterelle. Since I knew a very bulletin, 34 (8), 3465-3470. After the late August rains, I good spot for these mushrooms up Stamets, P. (1996). Psilocybin mushrooms decided to investigate what was the Galbraith Mountain, I decided of the world. Singapore : Ten Speed transpiring in the high country, and it would be worth the 3 ½ mile walk Press. set out for a trail on Mt. Baker that is up the grade to have a look. What I Tanaka, M., Hashimoto, K., Okuno, very familiar to our club, and known found was beyond belief. It probably T., Shirahama H. (1993). “Neurotoxic for yielding a wonderful array of takes 12 – 15 mushrooms to make oligoisoprenoids of the hallucinogenic alpine mushrooms, particularly, the up an ounce of these. Before walking mushroom, Gymnopilus spectabilis”. elusive king bolete. What I found back down the mountain, I had 4 ¾ Phytochemistry 34 (3), 661-664. there was quite disturbing. Not only pounds of these diminutive treats was snow still present on the higher in my basket! I was left to ponder part of the trail, I was seeing spring how this could have been possible, wild flowers, and the mountain given the time of the year (we’re not hemlock had just begun to break bud; in California), and the hard frosts. a scene one would expect to find in The other question is, where did the June! There were no mushrooms to energy come from to support such a be found. Naturally, I began to fret fruiting, when the host trees are at about the outcome of the season, their most dormant? and wondered if we would have any 2011 was most certainly a mushrooms at all to show at the club’s notable and vastly unusual year Fall Exhibit. for the mushroomer in the Pacific Then, something else unexpected Northwest. occurred. In the absence, of many, if not most of the mycorrhizals that we normally have, suddenly, there were saprophytes galore in all of the lowland woods. More varieties of polypores appeared than I have ever seen, and in the end, we ended up

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