Wild Species Bluing ✓ Potency: ★★★☆☆

Psilocybe makarorae

Common name: New Zealand native psilocybe

Field Identification

Cap1-3cm, convex to broadly umbonate, hygrophanous, dark brown when moist, pale cinnamon dry
GillsAdnate, dark brown, moderately crowded
Stem3-6cm x 2-4mm, pale brown, fibrous, whitish mycelium at base
Spore PrintDark purplish-brown, subellipsoid, 10-13 x 6-7 µm
HabitatPodocarp and beech forests on decaying wood and leaf litter; New Zealand native forest ecosystems
DistributionEndemic to New Zealand's South Island (Otago, Southland, West Coast)
SeasonAutumn through early winter (April-July in Southern Hemisphere)

Key Identification Feature

Native podocarp forest habitat; South Island NZ distribution; strong bluing reaction

⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes

Psilocybe subaeruginosa (similar habitat; subaeruginosa is typically larger); Galerina marginata (deadly — no bluing, ring present)

Notes

One of New Zealand's endemic psilocybin species, less commonly documented than P. subaeruginosa or P. aucklandii. Primarily found in intact native forest, not disturbed habitats. Estimated psilocybin content 0.3-0.7%.

Legal Status Warning Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are controlled substances in most jurisdictions. This guide is for educational purposes only. Wild foraging for psilocybin mushrooms may be illegal in your location. Never consume wild mushrooms without positive identification from an expert mycologist — misidentification can be fatal.

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