In the southern regions of Africa, researchers have now discovered a further two species from the Psilocybe genus — psychoactive mushrooms with a considerable potency as well. This breakthrough discovery not only increases our knowledge on the continent’s mycological diversity, but also helps us to understand how the mushrooms were traditionally used by indigenous communities.
Unlock the Mycological Treasure Chest of Africa
The findings highlight the wealth of underexplored mycological diversity in southern Africa by reporting the discovery of two new psychoactive Psilocybe species, namely Psilocybe ingeli and P.
Prior to this new research, there were only six Psilocybe species previously identified as native to the African continent, and two of them were also confirmed in the latest data. Especially fascinating about this discovery is that Psilocybe species are well-known for their psychoactive properties.
The discoveries were made in collaboration with citizen mycologists by researchers, led by Stellenbosch University postgraduate student Breyten van der Merwe. Such a collaborative effort between professional mycologists and local mushroom enthusiasts has proven an effective strategy for broadening our comprehension of the region’s fungal palette.
Revealing Traditional Uses of Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
One of the most interesting aspects of this research is that they have also published on traditional use by the Basotho people of Lesotho, a small mountain kingdom within southern Africa.
That would make what the researchers described as “extraordinary” the first record of the traditional use of hallucinogenic mushrooms on the continent. The citizen mycologist, Cullen Taylor Clark, has been working alongside a Mosotho traditional healer, Mamosebetsi Sethathi, to document how the use of Psilocybe maluti (‘koae-ea-lekhoaba’) fits into traditional healing.
This finding not only offers a unique chance to learn about the cultural and medicinal uses of Cordyceps but also demonstrates how traditional knowledge can be tokenized with scientific research on local resources. Working together with indigenous communities to document the oral traditions about these fungi will allow researchers to learn more about what role they have played in the life and practices of people who occupied intimately close quarters with their surrounding land for thousands of years.
Conclusion
Indeed, the finding of two new Psilocybe species in southern Africa gives us a new window to what we know about mycological diversity that encompasses the African continent. The collaboration of scientists with citizen mycologists has been a fruitful resource in the discovery of these cryptic organisms and the ethnomycological documentation of the traditional use by Psilocybe maluti by Basotho people enriches this field even more. With the scientific community embracing the comparatively posher side of Africa’s shroom species, these finds are a welcome reminder that no matter how many truffles and porcinis there might be hiding uptown in nature’s more cosmopolitan neighborhoods, the ‘hood’ still has its share of sonic booms (and bombs).
