Bad Liberty Caps - Beware!!!!

This is directed at those who are thinking of picking and drying out Psilocybe Semilinceata - the British Liberty Cap.

There are two important things to remember. First, ensure that any mushrooms you're going to dry (or eat) are free of maggots - if you only pick fresh ones this shouldn't be a problem. Discard any maggot infested mushrooms.

Secondly, and very important - make sure that the mushrooms are fully dried out before storage or ingestion. Often, the outside of the cap can seem very well dried, but inside, it's still full of moisture.
The problem is that this will cause the mushrooms to rot.
And if you take rotten mushrooms, you will get ill on them, which can be very unpleasant, as the phsycedelic effects aren't affected.

I did this once many years ago - 'dried' some mushrooms. kept them in a bag for a couple of weeks, then along with my pal, ate them (about 50 each).
Within an hour we were both in a bad way - stomach churning, dizziness, and nausea. Luckily, we were both experienced trippers, so we coped with it. A novice might not do so well.
When we looked at the remaining mushrooms, we broke them open to find a kind of horrible goo and many maggots inside - but the caps were dried hard on the outside.
I wouldn't want others to experience this, as I can assure you it was not at all pleasant.

So I repeat - only eat or dry fresh mushrooms. Ensure they are fully dried to the point where they will crumble to a powder, and always store in dry conditions.

 

thats fucking nasty man, thanks for the heads up

 

Yeh that sounds fkin rank.

Youve put me off mushies for like ..............1 minute. lol

Goin picking tomrow

 

As you're semilanceatas are drying on a sheet of paper over the night, you can see the white little wormies squirming all over the paper.
I believe they're dependent on the moisture so as the mushies dry out, worms will as well leave the spot...

 

In the past, I've eaten mushrooms freshly picked many times - wonder just how many 'wormies' I must have eaten too :H

When the mushrooms are dry throughout, any 'residents' should have either jumped ship, as you say, or died. When we had the bad mushrooms, it was because we hadn't dried them properly - we'd put them only half dried into a bag, and the wormies had a field day......but from outside, they looked ok. It was only when you broke open the caps that the horrible truth was revealed.
Best to dry them until they will crumble - provided they're kept dry, they'll be ok for ages.

 

Would dicing the caps make drying more thorough?

 

Does this only happen with liberty caps?

I eat mushrooms right after picking them...usually we just pick them, rip off the stem (cow poo doesn't seem appetizing) and then just eat the cap...

Is that safe?