Some thoughts on the ecological significance of lignicolous Psilocybe mushrooms.

[downwardsfromzero]

It has often been commented that lignicolous (wood-loving) Psilocybe mushrooms seem to rely on human activities to provide them with their substrate. However, there are other species which may also contribute to providing suitable conditions for these fungi to thrive. Creatures which produce significant amounts of wood chippings in a riparian habitat? Beavers, of course!

Now, I've not looked into this any further yet but it's surely not beyond the bounds of probability. There are no beaver populations within easy reach of where I currently live. I may yet be able to travel to a forest where they do live and if it's the right time of year I'll be sure to be making a mycological survey!

Does anyone else have any thoughts/further information on this idea? That beavers may have played a role in they existence of wood chip Psilocybes?


0v dfz

 

[null24]

Pretty sure someone here in the beaver state has looked into that. Beaver don't really spread a ton of wood chips around in creating their dams and dens. From what i understand, most saprotrophic (there seems to be as many terms as people talking about it sometimes... I've never heard lignico...wtvr.) mushroom spp were brought here from Europe in cultivated plant bedding or something and they spread.

A forest dwelling cyan is very rare, but does happen. I remember a find last year was documented on a fallen alder in the woods. Baeocystis and pelliculosa occur in the wild, with the latter more common in clear cuts. Who knows though?

 

[jamie]

The original habitat of psilocybe cyans is as far as I know, thought to be douglas fir cones, actually...NOT hardwoods like alder. I also have been told, in person by another member here who I trust that forest found cyans growing from a single fir cone(which is rare yes) were the most potent yet.

I dunno if that is relevant here but just throwing that out there cus it is interesting.

I know a fir cone cyan grow is on my to do list.

The most common psilocybin actives I know of found in virgin rainforest of this region(PNW) are of the gymnopilus species, and they don't require any human activity to do they're thing.

 

[downwardsfromzero]

Cool, thanks for the replies - and thanks for reminding me of the fir cone thing...

The other thing I was pondering was wood ant nests (they're big piles of twigs where I live, at least), although I suspect there are other species of fungi which have already got that niche cornered.

I'll just keep on rummaging around in the woods anyhow! With a bit of luck there'll be some kind of nice photo's to show - eventually.