Psilocybe makarorae
Introduction '''''Psilocybe makarorae''''' is a species of psilocybin mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae. Officially described as new to science in 1995, it is known only from New Zealand, where it grows on rotting wood and twigs of southern beeches. The fruit body (mushroom) has a brownish cap with lighter coloured margins, measuring up to  wide. The cap shape is either conical, bell-shaped, or flat depending on the age of the mushroom, and it features a prominent umbo. Although the whitish stem does not form a true ring, it retains remnants of the partial veil that covers and protects the gills of young fruit bodies. ''P. makarorae'' mushrooms can be distinguished from the similar North American species ''Psilocybe caerulipes'' by microscopic characteristics such as the presence of cystidia on the gill faces (pleurocystidia), and cheilocystidia (found on the gill edges) with more elongated necks. Based on the bluing reaction to injury, ''P. makarorae'' is presumed to contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.
Taxonomy The species was first mentioned in the literature in 1981, when Pierre Margot and Roy Watling described a specimen collected in 1969 by Grace Marie Taylor near the Franz Josef Glacier as an unnamed ''Psilocybe'' with affinities to the North American species ''Psilocybe caerulipes''. It was officially described as new to science in 1995 by mycologists Peter R. Johnston and Peter K. Buchanan.The type material was collected in 1990, near the Haast Pass crossing the Makarora River. The specific epithet ''makarorae'' refers to the type locality. ''P. makarorae'' is classified in Gastón Guzmán's section ''Cyanescens'' and is closely related to Psilocybe subaeruginosa.
Description The cap is initially conical to bell shaped, but as the mushroom grows, it expands to become convex with a prominent umbo, and attains a diameter of . The cap surface is dry to slightly tacky. Its colour is yellow-brown to orange-brown, often paler towards the margin, which has fine striations corresponding to the gills on the underside. The flesh is white. Gills have an adnexed attachment to the stem, and are pale greyish brown. The whitish stem is  long by 2–4 mm wide. It is cylindrical, with a surface of pressed silky fibrils. The base of the stem is often brownish, with white rhizoids present. The veil of young fruit bodies is cortinate—resembling the cobweb-like partial veil found in ''Cortinarius'' species. As the mushroom grows, its remnants often remain visible on the stem, but it never forms a complete ring. Both the cap and the stem stain greenish-blue when damaged.The spore print is dark purplish brown. Spores typically measure 7.5–9.5 by 5.5–6.5 by 4.5–5.5 μm, averaging 8.7 by 6.0 by 5.3 μm. Its shape in face view is ovate (egg-shaped) to roughly rhomboid, while viewed from the side it appears elliptical. The spore wall is brown, smooth, about 0.8–1 μm thick, and has a germ pore. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are four-spored and somewhat club-shaped, tapering slightly to the base; they are clamped, and measure 25–31 by 7–8.5 μm.The cheilocystidia (cystidia on the gill edge) have dimensions of 18–26 by 6–9 μm, and a shape ranging from ventricose-rostrate (broad in the middle and tapering to a beaklike neck) to mucronate (ending abruptly in a short sharp point). They are hyaline (translucent), thin-walled, and clamped, with necks that are 3–5 μm long. The pleurocystidia (cystidia on the gill face) are similar in shape to cheilocystidia, but narrower (4–8 μm wide), and usually have a shorter neck measuring 2.5–4 μm. The cap cuticle is a cutis (characterised by hyphae that run parallel to the cap surface) of long-celled, 2–3 μm diameter, gelatinised hyphae. The hypodermium (the tissue layer under the cap cuticle) is filamentous, comprising 4–6 μm diameter cells with pale brown walls. Clamps are common. The subhymenium (the tissue layer under the hymenium) is poorly developed, containing 2–4 μm diameter cells with pale brown walls. The tissue comprising the hymenophore is made of short cylindric, 3–6 μm diameter hyaline cells.''P. makarorae'' contains the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. Although the potency is not known definitely, Stamets suggests that, based on the degree of the bluing reaction, they are "probably moderately potent".===Similar species===''Psilocybe makarorae'' is related to ''Psilocybe weraroa'' and ''Psilocybe subaeruginosa'', though not as closely as they are to each other.
Habitat and distribution ''Psilocybe makarorae'' is known only from New Zealand. The reported collection locations have been on both the North and South Islands, including the Bay of Plenty, Westland District, Central Otago, and Dunedin, although Stamets suggests that it is more widely distributed. Like all ''Psilocybe'' species, it is saprobic, and feeds on decomposing organic matter. Fruit bodies grow scattered or in groups on the fallen, rotting wood of southern beeches (genus ''Nothofagus''), and are often encountered near lakes and picnic grounds
See also *Legal status of psilocybin mushrooms*List of psilocybin mushrooms*List of ''Psilocybe'' species
References ===Cited texts===*
External links ** Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua Images and text of original description