Psilocybe, a type of magic mushroom, thrives in various climates worldwide on a host of substrates, such as soil, wood, and manure. Despite this, only a handful of the known species are indigenous to Africa—the latest study takes the total to six.
Unlike magic mushroom Canada, which thrives easily in this country, systematic fieldwork surveys of the genus Psilocybe are “entirely lacking” for southern Africa. Discover what new species of Psilocybe is growing on the African continent.
Key Takeaways:
- South Africa’s hot, dry deserts are unsuitable for psilocybin mushrooms, but two new species emerged – P. ingeli and P. maluti.
- Based on testing of the 28S region, P. ingeli and P. maluti exhibit similarities to P. cubensis.
- Basotho healers in Lesotho have integrated P. maluti into their healing practices for centuries.
Magic Mushrooms in Southern Africa
South Africa’s hot, arid deserts are unsuitable for psilocybin shrooms, so there are a few strains from this region. The only known strain is South African Transkei.
Although the existence of African mushrooms might be limited, new records show that consuming these fungi is part of their culture. Indigenous consumption comes from 8,000-year-old cave murals in Tassili, Sahara Desert, which historians tentatively assumed to be hallucinogenic shrooms.
Growing Condition
Fungi in the wild grow under specific conditions that provide the nutrients they need for survival. Most species live beneath the soil to protect them from droughts, heavy rains, and temperature fluctuations.
Fungi prefer tropical or subtropical climates. Arid and arctic regions rarely support mushroom growth. In arid areas, fungi that do survive grow in decaying wood. South Africa also has fewer fungi species with psychoactive content due to its lack of multiple seasonal changes compared to regions like Canada and the US.
Due to the general lack of fungal growth in African regions, it is intriguing that the two new magic dried shrooms discovered were in cow manure. This discovery challenges the notion that fungi in arid areas exclusively grow in decaying woods.
Mycologists and the New Discovery
The first new mushroom species was discovered in 2021 by self-taught mycologist Daniella Mulder. She photographed the specimen growing on cow manure in the Free State province of South Africa. Mulder sent the unusual specimens and images to mycologist Breyten van der Merwe at Stellenbosch University.
Another self-taught mycologist named Cullen Clark and scientists at Stellenbosch searched for others like it. They found matching specimens in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a nation surrounded by South Africa.
The other specimen found in Africa has been named Psilocybe ingeli. It was discovered in 2023 by amateur mycologist Talan Moult in a coastal province of South Africa. He found it growing on grass enriched with cow manure towards the end of the rainy season.
Psilocybe Ingeli: Kwa-Zulu Natal Province
P. ingeli, discovered in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, South Africa, thrives in grasslands enriched with bovine manure. Its diminutive size and cap shape did not match any known South African species.
The BLAST results for the ITS, 28S, and TEF1-α sequences indicated that the collected fruiting bodies belonged to the genus Psilocybe.
| Test | Result (Percentage of Similarity) | Similar Species |
| ITS | 99.38% | P. keralensis |
| 28S region | 99.58% | P. cubensis |
| TEF1-α | 86.72% | P. silvatica |
Etymology: Named after the Ingeli mountain range.
Description
After identifying the genetic composition of this shroom, South African researchers published a paper in Mycologia with the following description of the specimen:
| Anatomy | Colour | Size | Description |
| Pileus | Caramel brown when moist and fading to light gray when dry Slight bluing occurs around the margin with handling. | 1–3 cm in diameter | Convex to hemispheric, umbonate, with a straight margin that is occasionally slightly incurved. The surface is smooth, with translucent striations running halfway up the pileus. It has a separable gelatinous pellicle. |
| Lamellae | Light gray when young, maturing to dark brown with a whitish margin. | – | Sinuate or wavy margin |
| Spore Print | Dark purple-brown | – | – |
| Stipe | White scales and caramel brown colouration. | 3–7 × 0.2–0.6 cm | Scaled to pruinose. The base has white mycelium and shows bluing when damaged. |
| Basidia | Hyaline | 15–25 × 6–9 μm, mostly 2-sterigmate with sterigmata 3–5 μm long | Rarely with granular contents, cylindrical |
| Basidiospores | Dark brown in 3% KOH with Congo red | ~1 μm thick | Ovate to ellipsoid, thick-walled |
| Cheilocystidia | Hyaline | 11–21 × 4–8 μm | Abundant on lamellae margin. Sublageniform to subclavate, with common rostrum |
| Pleurocystidia | Hyaline | 12–25 × 5–9 μm | Scattered, clavate to sublageniform, with common rostrum |
| Pileipellis | Hyaline | 2–6 μm wide | Hyphae, thin-walled |
| Stipitipellis | Hyaline | 1–6 μm wide | Hyphae, thin-walled |
Psilocybe Maluti: Free State Province of South Africa
In 2021, researchers discovered a mushroom with blue bruising and characteristics similar to Psilocybe growing on bovine manure in the Free State Province of South Africa. The specimen featured a unique secotioid pileus, which remains enclosed even when fully mature and did not match any known Psilocybe species descriptions.
DNA sequencing revealed genetic differences in the ITS, 28S, and TEF1-α regions compared to similar species.
| Test | Result (Percentage of Similarity) | Similar Species |
| ITS | 99.06% | P. chuxiongensis |
| TEF1-α | 98.86% | P. chuxiongensis |
| 28S region | 99.42% | P. cubensis |
Etymology: Named after the Maluti Mountains. Extends from the Free State and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces of South Africa throughout the Kingdom of Lesotho
Traditionally Used in Spiritual Practices
The paper highlights the traditional use of P. maluti by Basotho healers in Lesotho. This appears to be the only recorded firsthand report of hallucinogenic shrooms being used traditionally in Africa.
Cullen Taylor Clark, a citizen mycologist and co-author, collaborated with Mamosebetsi Sethathi, a traditional healer. They documented using P. maluti (locally known as koae-ea-lekhoaba) in traditional healing practices.
This documentation is part of a larger effort led by Clark to record the use of psilocybin by indigenous groups in southern Africa.
Description
| Anatomy | Colour | Size | Description |
| Pileus | Golden caramel to pale yellow when younger, fading to darker shades of gray | 0.5–2 cm in diameter and 2–4 cm in length | Secotioid, umbonate, or papillated Incurved to slightly recurved margins, irregularly wavy, and faintly striated in some specimens, with striations running approximately halfway up the pileus. The surface is smooth, occasionally finely textured, with irregular bumps. |
| Lamellae | Light brown when immature, aging to dark purple, with a cream-coloured margin | – | Adnate |
| Spore Print | Dark purple to dark brown | – | – |
| Stipe | Whitish, fading to light caramel brown with age, and bluing when handled | 4–8 × 0.2–0.4 cm | Cylindrical, fibrillose, with no pseudorhiza |
| Basidia | – | 31–41 × 9–12 μm, sterigmata mostly 4–6 μm long | Cylindrical to clavate and contain granular contents, being 4-sterigmate |
| Basidiospores | Brown | 0.7–0.9 μm thick | Ovate to ellipsoid, relatively thick-walled |
| Cheilocystidia | Hyaline | 19–31 × 7–11 μm | Abundant on the lamellae margin, clavate and mucronate |
| Pileipellis | Hyaline | 3–7 μm wide | Thin-walled |
| Stipitipellis | Hyaline | 3–7 μm wide | Thin-walled, with occasional dark incrusted pigments |
In Comparison to P. cubensis
Among the many species, P. cubensis stands out as the most prevalent. This relatively common shroom exhibits a variety of shapes, sizes, and potencies. It particularly favours tropical regions.
Based on previous genetic testing, the two new specimens shared similarities with this ubiquitous species. The researchers did not specify which strain the two newly discovered fungi are similar to. Cubensis has several strains available for online purchase in Canada.
| Similarities | Cubensis | Ingeli | Maluti |
| Caps | Light yellow and tan to brown, fading toward the edges | Caramel brown when moist and fading to light gray | Golden caramel to pale yellow and fading to darker shades of gray |
| Blue Brusing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stem | White, turning yellowish or brownish | White and caramel brown | Whitish, fading to light caramel brown |
| Spores | Sub-ellipsoid and purple-brown | Dark purple-brown | Dark purple to dark brown |
| Basidia | Four-spored but can occasionally be two or three-spored | Mostly 2-sterigmate | Four spored |
Sample of P. cubensis strains available:
- Golden Teacher. Easily recognized for their distinctive appearance, characterized by golden caps adorned with yellow speckles. The stems are long and gently curved, with a thicker stipe than hollow.
- Alacabenzi. Demonstrated benefits such as reducing stress and anxiety levels, symptoms of depression, and enhancing openness.
- Amazonian. Its high potency is attributed to concentrated levels of psilocybin and psilocin. Users reported feelings of increased happiness and strong sensory changes.
- Blue Pulaski. Consistently produces large, dense caps and stems with bruising. Notably potent and offers a profound sense of bliss.
- Cambodian. Rapid colonizer and impressive fruiting capabilities. This leads to mild visual distortions and heightened creative inspiration.
New Discovery Leads to More Understanding of Magic Shrooms
The discovery of two new species P. ingeli and P. maluti reveals how these fungi can thrive in previously considered unsuitable regions. It also provides an understanding of the historical use of psychedelic shrooms on the African continent.
Mycologists and the broader community have limited knowledge about the use of these natural psychedelics in African traditions. It indicates opportunities to expand our understanding and classify new species. Psilocybin-containing cubensis are currently accessible through online dispensaries such as Zoomies Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was P. maluti used in South Africa?
Local Basotho healers, ling aka (plural) or ngaka (singular), consume the conically capped as part of a spiritual tradition. They use them to “foresee the future.” Other healers, known as ngaka-chitja, occasionally use them in association with their “vast knowledge of herbs and remedies” to treat others.
How potent are the two new fungi discovered?
The discussion mainly focused on genetics and physical attributes, not explicitly mentioning psilocybin and psilocin content. Given their similarities to cubensis, their potency may fall within a similar range. Future studies by mycologists will likely delve deeper into understanding the potency.
Can you consume ingeli and maluti shrooms?
Little information is available about their consumption, but Indigenous groups in South Africa reportedly use maluti for healing purposes. This suggests that you may consume it similarly to well-known varieties like semilanceata or cubensis.
