The Liberty Cap Mushroom

The Liberty Cap mushroom holds the distinction of being the world’s most iconic and widespread psychedelic mushrooms. Although many people in the United States might be more familiar with psilocybe cubensis, its coprophagic cousin, the Liberty Cap mushroom holds much more distinction, boasts more history and spans the globe. This Liberty Cap profile provides all the basic background and information needed to liberate your fungal fantasies. 

Here is a quick video introduction to the Liberty Cap mushroom:

Species Name of the Liberty Cap Mushroom

The species name of the Liberty Cap is psilocybe semilanceata. In 1838, Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries provided the world with the first description of psilocybe semilanceatus. However, Elias was a gill loving mycologist so he put it under the genus Agraricus, which gilled mushrooms were often placed under. 

Then in 1871 a German mushroom maven by the name of Paul Kummer switched the Liberty Cap’s genus name to psilocybe. After his tinkering, Jacob Emanuel Lange changed the Liberty Cap mushroom to today’s scientific name, psilocybe semilanceata, in 1936.

The etymology of the Liberty Cap mushroom derives from its physical features. Psilocybe means “smooth head” and semilanceata nods to being “half-spear shaped.” 

Besides colloquially referred to as Liberty Caps, they are also called Phrygian Caps. What does a psychedelic mushroom have to do with freedom and a hat? More on that later, so keep reading.

Psychedelic Properties and Potency

The Liberty Cap mushroom contains the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and baeocystin, an alkaloid and analog of psilocybin. Various studies over the years have found high percentages of psilocybin in the Liberty Cap mushroom. 

In a 1993 study by Gartz, the Liberty Cap was found to have a 1% average of psilocybin, ranging from 0.2% to 2.37%. Another study in the Pacific Northwest of the United States also found a 1% average with individual levels ranging from 0.62% to 1.28%. This translates to the Liberty Cap mushroom containing “…around 6 -10mg of psilocybin per gram of dried mushrooms.”

While this may not sound like a lot, these percentages help rank Liberty Cap mushrooms as one of the most potent among the psilocybe genus. Even though the psilocybin percentages reported here do not represent a wide enough sampling to provide conclusive data, they still qualify psilocybe semilanceata as the third strongest mushroom in its genus. Only psilocybe azurenscens and psilocybe bohemica contain higher percentages of psilocybin. Even then, the Liberty Cap mushroom boasts the highest level of baeocystin at 0.36%.  Our article “Understanding and Measuring Magic Mushroom Potency” cover the topic of potency in more depth

This is all to say that consuming psilocybe semilanceata will undoubtedly ring your Liberty Bell quite hard, and hopefully not so powerfully that you are left with a permanent crack. However, it is a welcoming trend to see a crack in the war on consciousness and the ability to regain sovereignty over our consciousness.

Altered States of Liberty Caps

Do not worry, consuming Liberty Caps will be nothing like the movie Altered States. Much like cannabis was demonized with infamous propaganda like Reefer Madness, mushrooms and psychedelics have also been marginalized. Psilocybin qualifies as a classic psychedelic in the same company as LSD and mescaline. While on rare occasions, people have experienced tragedy under the influence of mushrooms, psilocybin remains one of the safest psychoactive compounds to use, especially in the correct set and setting. 

Set and setting refer to one’s mindset going into a psychedelic journey, and the setting refers to the location, place or environment the psychedelic journey takes place. Do make sure that both of these elements are in good form before the journey. For example, do not consume Liberty Cap mushrooms if a job has just been lost, a relative has died, or a romantic breakup has just occurred for example. Also, do not take psilocybin at Sunday mass, a best friend’s wedding or a PTA meeting. 

A good set is free of anxiety, stress, trauma, or any other life imbalance or chaos. The setting has a bit more leeway and flexibility, however, doing Liberty Caps out in nature where you found them is always the safest bet. When these things are in place, here is what you can expect to happen after ingesting psilocybin:

Profound mental peace and serenity

Unusual and atypical thought patterns

Quick mood swings and changes

The increasing feeling of detachment to current reality

Euphoria, bliss and uncontrollable bouts of laughter, perhaps leading to tears

Feeling of unity with people, plants, animals and everything around

Distorted, altered, or enhanced visualizations: phantasmagoria, wild, vivid colors, kaleidoscopic visions, geometric shapes, fractals, mandalas, etc.

Experiencing spiritual transcendence and awakening, awe and numinous peak states

Synesthesia

A sense of connection to surrounding people and objects while being disengaged (Off in your own little world, while everyone is with you psychically)

Dissolution of time and space

Simply put, when your psychedelic journey scenario aligns correctly, one can discover an ancient system to achieve cosmic bliss. Afterwards, do not be alarmed if entirely new and fresh perspectives of the world and reality manifest. Lifting the veil on the Matrix is never a comfortable endeavor.

Liberty Cap Mushroom Dosing

Dosing always varies on a person-to-person basis. Body size and composition play a role. How much time has passed since the last meal also influences psilocybin uptake. Eating psychedelic mushrooms on an empty stomach is generally advised if possible. Allow 3 to 4 hours after eating your last meal to ingest Liberty Cap mushrooms. 

Mushroom dosing depends on various factors, like the particular species, their state of preservation (fresh or dried), etc. This makes psychedelic mushroom dosing an imprecise science at best. However, generally speaking, dosing Liberty Cap mushrooms goes as follows:

Pure Psilocybin

Microdose: < 4 mg

Low dose: 4 – 8 mg

Average dose: 6 – 20 mg

High dose: 20 – 35 mg

Very high dose: > 35 mg

Dry Mushrooms

Microdose: < 0.25 gr

Low dose: 0.25 -1 gr

Average dose: 1 – 2.5 gr

High dose: 2.5 – 5 gr

Very high dose: > 5 gr

Liberty Cap Mushroom on the Clock

The onset of psilocybin varies from individual to individual as well. Oral ingestion of psilocybin lags behind other consumption modalities, like inhalation for example. Broadly speaking, most people will feel psilocybin begins to work after about half an hour. Potent ones can sometimes only take 15 minutes to kick in. 
The psilocybin upswing begins at the 1 hour to 90-minute mark, and the peak can be expected to last around 2 hours before beginning to dial down. The entire experience will last 4 to 6 hours, depending on dosage strength. Think about it like a rollercoaster ride.

There will be a slow, anxious time cranking up to the first, big drop. There will be lots of wild ups, downs, turns, curves, and more drops, before flattening out, and cruising smoothly into a full stop.

Liberty Cap Mushrooms Do a Body Good

The physical effects of Liberty Cap mushrooms are minimal. These include pupil dilation and slightly elevated heart rate and blood pressure, particularly at higher dosages. Nausea is common, although not expected, as mushrooms love beating on stomachs. An uncomfortable stomach may occur, but do not expect vomiting or diarrhea, as this is not as frequent. On rare occasions, dizziness, tremors and muscle discomfort may occur. Overall, the physical effects are mild and not a big deal.

Liberty Cap Habitat: Be Careful Cutting the Grass

Liberty Caps love 3 things: grass, moisture, and natural fertilizer. Due to the prevalence of this trio of environmental settings, the Liberty Cap mushroom is the world’s most prolific psychedelic mushroom. They can be found in parklands, backyards, pastures, fields, forests, and just about anywhere these 3 factors converge. 

Psilocybe semilanceata magic mushrooms are a saprobic fungus, so it gets off on rotting and decomposing grass roots. The only other thing that it might enjoy more is getting wet. Liberty Caps thrive in damp, wet and moisture-ridden environments. The last secret ingredient is adding nature’s Miracle Gro- dung. Liberty Caps do not grow directly on dung, yet relish fields and areas fertilized with animal waste: cow, sheep, horse, etc. The mushroom delights in acidic, rich soil. Not only does shit grow flowers, it also grows beautiful, healing, psychedelic mushrooms.

Liberty Cap Mushrooms Are Your Passport to the World

Thanks to the ease of finding its most desired habitat, Psilocybe Semilanceata/Liberty Cap mushrooms are readily available in your nearest wet, grass patch around the world. Psilocybe semilanceata favors the northern hemisphere. The mushroom is native to Europe and can be located throughout the European Union, from Hungary to Spain to Britain and Ireland. 

The Liberty Cap also enjoys wide distribution throughout North America. The mushroom calls Canadian provinces home from New Brunswick to British Columbia. The mushroom’s prevalence does not stop there. The Liberty Cap reaches far and wide across the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, on the western side of the Cascade Mountains. 

Liberty Caps have been found as far and wide as Ukraine and Pakistan. Even people residing in the southern hemisphere are not out of luck. Liberty Caps have been found in the Pacific Rim, Chile and even South Africa, among other countries.

Liberty Cap Mushroom Mugshot

If you imagine what the favorite mushroom of your garden gnome is, then you are visualizing a Liberty Cap. Liberty Caps are delicate, pale brownish to beige, with distinct striations on the cap, that is topped with a noticeable nipple. The cap stands atop a wavy, thin, half-cooked spaghetti stem strand. Psilocybe semilanceata changes color depending upon the amount of moisture in its environment. It also sports a slimy film on the cap that can be peeled back, when still moist.

Liberty Cap Look Alikes

Liberty Cap mushrooms are one of the most often misidentified mushrooms in the field, pun intended. Some of the Liberty Cap’s imposters include panaeolus semiovatus, the lovely named Dung Roundhead and panaeolina foenisecii, also known as the Brown Mottlegill or Mower’s Mushroom.

Unfortunately, the list of fakers does not end there. Other Liberty Cap mimics are psilocybe fimetaria, psilocybe liniformans, conocybe apala, psilocybe strictipes, and pholiotina rugosa.

To Cap It All Off

The Liberty Cap’s etymological history stretches back to Roman times and the assassination of Caesar. The naming of the Liberty Cap mushroom follows a long and winding road starting with the caps freedmen in ancient Rome wore. They were forced to wear the hat as both a symbol of pride and shame.

Fast forward a slew of centuries, and the next cap associated with liberty was the Phyrgian cap, or the iconic red hat with the pointy tip, that French revolutionaries wore. The trendy cap spread to the United States during the American Revolutionary War. The cap would be hoisted atop a pole in town squares symbolizing liberty. 

From there, it took the work of a few poets and writers to begin associating the imagery of the cap and pole with psilocybe semilanceata and that would complete the long, strange trip of how the Liberty Cap got its name.

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