Panaeolus cyanescens

Panaeolus cyanescens, also better known as blue meanies, are a psilocybin-containing mushroom species named for their blue bruising and famed for their potency and commonality. However, despite being found worldwide, they aren’t as commonly consumed as other species of psilocybin-containing mushrooms such as Psilocybe cubensis. Continue reading to find out why Panaeolus cyanescens, one of the most potent species of psychedelic mushrooms, remains a hidden gem to psychonauts.

Panaeolus cyanescens Identification

The cap of Panaeolus cyanescens starts off light brown and fades to an off-white with yellowish tones upon maturity, and also becomes convex. The caps are known to develop cracks in dry weather. The stems of blue meanies mushrooms are a similar colour to the cap, long and slender, becoming thicker towards the base.

Underneath the cap is molted grey gills with white edges that are broadly attached to the stem. Upon sporulation, the gills darken and may become black with full maturity. As their colloquial name suggests, significant blue bruising can be seen with handling or damage, giving a hint into the potency of this mushroom.

Panaeolus cyanescens Look Alikes

When foraging for any mushroom, it’s vital to know any look-alike species, which are species that may be misidentified as your target species. The most common lookalikes for Panaeolus cyanescens are other Panaeolus species since they share many physical characteristics. Panaeolus antillarum, for example, was once thought to be the same species though it can be distinguished by a slighter thicker cap and lighter colour.

Other common lookalike species include Protostropharia semiglobata, Pholiotina rugosa (which is known to contain amatoxins, the same ones found in Death Caps), Tubaria furfuracea, Conocybe species, and some Deconica species. Related genera to Panaeolus cyanescens include also include Coprinellus and Coprinopsis, though these can be distinguished as the gills of Panaeolus do not melt away (deliquesce) whereas they do in the case of some Coprinellus and Coprinopsis species.

Deadly Galernia is not necessarily a lookalike, but it is important to be aware of it as it is deadly if eaten. Fortunately, it grows in a different habitat.

Panaeolus cyanescens Spores

Spores of Panaeolus cyanescens are jet black. Many spore syringes that are sold online as Blue Meanie spores are not actually spores of the species Panaeolus cyanescens, but rather of a strain of Psilocybe cubensis with the same name. However, there are some that can be found in online dispensaries.

Panaeolus cyanescens Cultivation

Cultivating Panaeolus cyanescens is similar to cultivating Psilocybe cubensis, though Panaelous cyanescens are more vulnerable than Psilocybe cubensis in that they need more attention and maintenance, and their mycelium is normally less rhizomorph than the mycelium of the Psilocybe cubensis. Deviation from the ideal growing conditions can result in no yield whatsoever.
In order to cultivate Panaeolus cyanescens, you will need:

• Spawn*
• Straw
• Manure
• Vermiculite
• Casing
• Filter bags
• Impulse sealer

*It’s vital for the growth of Panaeolus cyanescens to have strong spawn. Rye is the best basis for spawn, and it’s advised to inoculate the rye with a strong single strain on agar instead of a spore syringe.

When the spawn is totally colonized, mix (very well) the following dry components in a pot to prepare the substrate, adding water after:

• 10 parts of straw
• 4 parts of cow manure
• 3 parts of vermiculite
• 3 parts of water

Mix the dry components in a pot and add the water afterwards. Mix everything very well.

Then sterilise the substrate in a filter bag. After it’s cooled down, spread well shaken and loose spawn evenly on the substrate in the filter bag with straw, sealing the bag immediately after.

Put the filter bag in the incubator with a temperature of 28 – 30 °C and after two to four weeks the substrate will be totally colonized with the mycelium. Spread the colonized substrate in a large, clean bag and put the casing layer on top. Close the pot well again with plastic foil and place it in the incubation space in order to give the mycelium time to create a strong network. After a couple of days, the mycelium should be visible through the casing layer, and it can be placed in fruiting conditions:

• (indirect) sun light
• 24 – 25 °C
• air humidity 95 – 100%

After a week the first small fruiting bodies will appear. From here on out its very important for the mushrooms get enough fresh air (min. 4 – 5x a day), and the air humidity can go down to 90 – 95%.

Panaeolus cyanescens Potency

As mentioned above, Panaeolus cyanescens are named after the substantial blue staining that occurs to the fruiting body after it has been picked, handled, or damaged. This blue staining is generally an indicator of the presence of psilocybin and psilocin (psychoactive compounds in magic mushrooms that make you trip), since the blue hue is caused by the oxidation of the compound psilocin at the site of impact. With blue meanies mushrooms being named for the excessive bluing reaction, you’d be right to assume that blue meanies mushrooms are very potent. In fact, analysis from 25 samples of Panaeolus cyanescens shows psilocybin and psilocin concentrations of 2.5% and 1.194% respectively, making this species the most potent psilocybin mushroom ever described in reputable published research).

Panaeolus cyanescens Effects

As with most psychedelic mushrooms, Panaeolus cyanescens produces a range of physical, perceptual, emotional, psychological, and spiritual effects which vary depending on dosage, including:

• Auditory distortions
• Colour Enhancement
• Distortion of space/time
• Intense feelings of euphoria and joy
• Introspection
• Morphing of objects
• Mystical states like feeling connected to the universe
• Synesthesia (i.e. “hearing colours”, “seeing sounds”)

Blue meanies are up to 5x a potent as the more commonly consumed Psilocybe cubensis, meaning lower doses are needed to achieve “higher-dose” experiences

If you wish to explore Panaeolus cyanescens, especially at higher doses, it’s recommended that you contact a psychedelic integration therapist beforehand. You can find one from our listing here.

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