Psilocybe Azurescens is a fascinating species of mushroom with spores that’re otherworldly under the microscope. Their unique and mysterious history, distinguishable looks, and potent research make Azurescens a must have for all spore enthusiasts. 

Psilocybe Azurescens are commonly referred to as “Flying Saucers”. This is due to the shape of their caps. As they mature, the caps open up wide and flat with a pointed nipple in the center, resembling the shape of a flying saucer! They’re also at times called “Blue Angels” because the stems bruise a vibrant blue color. 

The lore of their discovery depicts a group of Boy Scouts in 1979 setting up their camp on the Columbia River Delta (near Astoria, OR). Near the mouth of the river the group found a patch of mushrooms growing on some dead wood and they decided to eat them. Not long after they experienced extreme psychedelic effects. 

However, it’s highly probable that Azurescens were found earlier than this by local mushroom foragers in the area. Before being classified as Azurescens, it was often referred to as another popular species- Pan Cyans. Before 1995 it was locally known as Panaelous cyanescens var. Astoria Ossip as well as Psilocybe astoriensis. Then finally, in 1995 the species was formally classified by Paul Stamets and colleague Jochen Gartz as Psilocybe azurescens.

Species Information

Flying Saucer mushrooms are native to the west coast of the USA (California, Oregon, and Washington mainly), but there have been specimens identified growing in Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. However, Azurescens are slowly but surely spreading across the US and Canada with more recent observations in Colorado, Idaho, and British Columbia. But, their expanding habitat is most likely due to human activity, both intentional and accidental. 

Mycologists know these fungi to naturally grow adjacent to coastlines. They’re most commonly found amongst coastal dunes, within coastal grass clumps, and on washed up driftwood. More inland they will colonize deciduous deadwood, woodchips, and debris. The mycelium of Psilocybe Azurescens is dense, rhizomorphic, and known to grip the substrate firmly.

It’s crucial to note that Psilocybe Azurescens differ greatly from Cubensis when it comes to habitat and environmental conditions. To start off, Azurescens are a wood loving species. While Cubensis can be found growing off wood, it’s rare and they much prefer manure over wood. Second, Azurescens prefer growing in very cold temperatures. Their fruiting season begins in late September and continues all the way until January. In fact, they can withstand temps as low as 25°F. 

Another difference between Azurescens and Cubensis is that the Flying Saucers are a much slower grower when compared to Cubensis. Furthermore, you can expect to find much smaller yields of Azurescens than Cubensis when foraging. Psilocybe Azurescens tend to grow in small, tight clusters that are spread out.