What Is The Scientific Name Of Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms are fungi containing psychoactive alkaloids or organic compounds and are classified scientifically according to their chemical properties based on the psychedelic substances found in them. Magic mushrooms mainly contain organic compounds like Psilocybin, Psilocin or Muscimol which have a mind altering effect involving trances and visions on the user.

The mushrooms containing Psilocybin and Psilocin are said to belong to the Psilocybe genus like for example Psilocybe cyanescens (wavy caps) recognisable by their distinct property of turning blue when crushed. The fungi that contain Muscimol belong to the Amanita Muscaria (fly agaric) class of which the disc shaped and white spotted red coloured toadstool mushroom is a well known variety.

The fungi are believed to have been used by man in the past in various rituals like in Shamanistic ones or by Viking warriors to achieve a state of frenzy while fighting. Magic mushrooms are classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States according to the Controlled Substances Act and possession or sale of the substance is treated as a criminal offence.