Panaeolus cyanescens Spores: Syringes, Prints & Isolates

Panaeolus cyanescens is a separate species from Psilocybe cubensis, in a different genus altogether. It is a dung-loving mushroom of tropical and subtropical grassland, recorded from Hawaii, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and parts of Africa. The nickname Blue Meanie is widely used for the species, which causes confusion with a cubensis strain sold under the same name.

Under the microscope it is easy to separate from cubensis: the print is jet black rather than purple-brown, and the spores are lemon shaped with a prominent germ pore, roughly 12 to 14 by 8 to 11 micrometres. Vendors sell several regional collections as isolates, usually labelled by location, alongside swabs and prints. Check the label for the collection name and whether the syringe is an isolate or multispore.

• Species: Panaeolus cyanescens (not a cubensis strain)
• Spore print: black
• Spores: lemon shaped, roughly 12 to 14 by 8 to 11 micrometres
• Also sold as: regional isolate syringes, swabs, prints
• Habitat: dung in tropical and subtropical grassland