cubensis (Golden Teacher (cultivar), Cubensis) — Species | WeMush Taxonomy

cubensis

Golden Teacher (cultivar), Cubensis

Psilocybe cubensis is a pantropical, coprophilous (dung-inhabiting) agaric fungus belonging to the family Hymenogastraceae. It is the most widely known and cultivated psilocybin-containing mushroom globally. The fruit bodies are characterized by their conic to convex caps, which eventually flatten with age, often retaining a distinct umbo. The cap surface is smooth and viscid (sticky) when moist due to a separable gelatinous pellicle, ranging in color from reddish-cinnamon to golden-brown, and is hygrophanous, fading to pale yellow or white as it dries. A distinct, persistent membranous annulus (ring) is typically present on the stipe, often stained dark purple by falling spores.

Edibility: Medicinal only. Not considered a culinary mushroom. Contains significant quantities of the psychoactive alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin, which induce powerful hallucinations, altered perception, and spiritual experiences. The taste is often described as farinaceous (flour-like) and slightly bitter. Consumption is primarily for entheogenic or therapeutic research purposes. Safety: Possession is illegal in many jurisdictions. Psychological risks include anxiety, panic, and potential exacerbation of underlying mental health conditions. Accurate identification is critical to avoid deadly lookalikes such as Galerina marginata, though the habitat (dung vs. wood) differs.

Habitat: Exclusively coprophilous, growing directly on or near the dung of herbivores, particularly cattle and water buffalo, in humid pastures and grasslands. It rarely grows directly on soil unless the soil is extremely enriched with manure.. Substrates: Bovine dung (cow manure), Equine dung (horse manure), Enriched pasture soils, Sugar cane mulch. Conditions: Requires high humidity and warm, tropical to subtropical temperatures. Thrives in environments with frequent rainfall.. Season: Fruits nearly year-round in tropical climates; in subtropical zones (like the US Gulf Coast), fruiting typically occurs from late spring through autumn (May to November).

Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE

Growth: fast

Contam Risk: medium

Cultivation Suitability

Preferred Substrates

Brown rice flour (PF Tek)

Rye grain

Coco coir

Vermiculite

Manure/Straw compost

Distribution

Native: Mexico, Cuba, Central America, South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil), India, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia). Introduced: Australia (Queensland, NSW), United States (Gulf Coast states: FL, AL, MS, LA, TX), Hawaii. Pantropical; widely naturalized in warm grazing areas worldwide due to the global movement of cattle.

Known Strains (1)

Golden Teacher

BEGINNER

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