Revised January 9, 2005 and October 17, 2007
Copyright 1998-2007 by John W. Allen




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Psilocybe natalensis Gartz, Reid, Smith and Eicker. Photo: Courtesy of Jochen Gartz




 

Cap: 1 to 4-6 diameter, obtusely conic to hemispheric, then convex to broadly convex, sometimes with an umbo and not hygrophanous. At first yellowish to off-white.
Bluing slightly along outer edge of cap.

Gills:Subcurrent at first buff than dark purple-brown with a white edge.

Stem:4-12 x 0.2-1 cm. At first enlarged at pelius and enlarged at the base ion mature specimens. Smooth, dry, white and always curved. Hollow, easily staining blue-green when touched, particularly at the base of stem.

Spores:(10) 12-15 x (7) 8.5-9.4 microns.

Sporeprint:Deep Violet.

Habitat:Scattered in fertilized rich manured soil in pastures but not directly on manure.

Distribution:
Known only from the type locality.

Season:January

Dosage:Currently unknown.

Comment:Material studied came from Natal, South Africa at 1500 meters altitude at O'Neil's cottage between Volksrust and Bristol. Gartz introduced this new species to the world at the 1994 Gathering of the Minds Symposium at Chapman University in Orange County, Los Angeles, California.

A second collection was discovered by Derek Reid and Albert Eicker also in the same district as the original collection but this time it was 250 km from the original locale. The new collections were found in the Kwa-Zulu Drakensburg range, at Hlalanathi Drakensburg Resort, Royal Natal National Park, Bergville District on the 25 of March, 1998.



















All above photographs, Courtesy of Jochen Gartz




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