Psilocybe serbica: A Balkan Enigma

Psilocybe serbica might not be as well-known as some of its counterparts. A type of mushroom that belongs to the Hymenogastraceae family, and is packed with psilocybin, psilocin, and a bunch of other related tryptamine alkaloids. 

It was discovered in 1969 by Meinhard Moser and Egon Horak. Later on, a study in 2010 discovered that P. serbica is the same as Psilocybe bohemica, described by Šebek in 1983, and Psilocybe arcana, named by Borovička and Hlaváček in 2001, and Psilocybe moravica by Borovička in 2003.

If you are intrigued as much as we are jump in to discover more about this double agent. Like the structure of Psilocybe serbica, its habitat and similar species. 

Source: Martin Malec

The structure of Psilocybe serbica

Its unique disposition will be easy to decipher once you read through this short description.

Cap	The mushroom’s cap starts small, around 1–4 cm wide, shaped like a gentle cone. As it grows, it goes from a cone to a wider curve. Over time, it gets flat, and its color goes from a brownish buff to a pale orange-brown.
Gills	They start light brown, then go dark brown with a hint of purple as they age, but the edges stay a bit paler. These gills are attached and close together, often reaching down a bit.
Stipe	1.8–3.1 in long, and 0.1–0.4 thick and slightly fatter at the bottom. The stem looks whitish and shiny.
Veil	Forms a delicate ring that is almost invisible as the mushroom matures.
Stain	If it gets bumped, it will turn blue.
Spores	The spores are oval, and they’ve got a tiny hole. They can be quite different in size, but mostly they’re around 10–13 by 6–7.5 μm.
Spore print	The spore print is dark brown.

Habitat and distribution

Psilocybe serbica is often found in groups. Accompanying decaying wood life, both deciduous and coniferous, it’s also found in Urtica spp. and Rubus spp. chilling on twigs, compost, and leftover plant bits in forests. 

You’ll spot it around creeks, forest paths, and even road edges where things are a bit damp. Unlike Psilocybe cyanescens, you can’t find it in urban areas, but you might catch it now and then, giving woodchips a try.

Mycologists found Psilocybe serbica only in Central and Eastern Europe. Unlike other species in the Psilocybe genus with descriptive names, its name just points to its discovery spot. However, that got a bit confusing when it was found in other areas, like the Czech Republic and south of Italy and Greece.

Source: Wikipedia

Similar species 

Psilocybe serbica and Psilocybe aztecorum are like cousins, they are closely related but don’t look alike. P. serbica resembles other Psilocybin mushrooms more, like Psilocybe cyanescens. These two even share some habitats, though P. cyanescens prefers cultivated wood chip beds. When it comes to looks, P. cyanescens has a wavy cap, when it’s matured. Different versions of P. serbica also have a wavy cap, just to varying degrees.

Take a closer look at the spores 

You can observe this magical world of fungi whenever you please. Your research journey starts here. Check out Fungushead, we have an amazing collection of Psilocybe cubensis mushroom spore syringes, swabs, and mixpacks.

Here’s what’s in them:

High-Quality Spores	Our syringes are filled with meticulously purified water, which serves as a protective shield against any unwelcome contaminants.
Deionized Type 2 Water	Our spores undergo regular tests to ensure they are lively and thriving, free from any potential contaminants.
Tested for Viability	Each syringe comes labeled with the strain name and a picture of what that strain looks like when fruiting.
Labeled for Identification	Each syringe comes labeled with the strain name and a picture of what that strain looks like when fruiting

All of the content and images on our site are for informational reference only. The cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is federally illegal in the United States. We do not promote the cultivation of psilocybin “magic” mushrooms under any circumstances. Do not contact us asking for advice related to this subject. Any products found on this site are for microscopy and taxonomy purposes only. None of the psilocybin mushroom spores we offer are for consumption or cultivation. We do not sell any products containing psilocybin.