Psilocybe azurescens grows in the wild and can also be easily cultivated outdoors. They’ve been given the name “flying saucer” because of the shape of the mushroom cap.
Psilocybe azurescens has some lookalikes that you should be aware of, especially since some of these are poisonous and, potentially, deadly.
The first step in identifying flying saucer mushrooms in the wild is knowing where they grow.
The preferred environment of this species ranges from caespitose (growing in tight, separated clusters) to gregarious (scattered and irregular) on deciduous wood chips.
Psilocybe azurescens grows naturally along a small area of the West Coast of the United States, including parts of Oregon and California.
The small natural distribution of flying saucer mushrooms has encouraged a debate about whether they are, in fact, an introduced species to the area.
You’ll be able to identify Psilocybe azurescens by knowing the distinctive features of the mushroom, which are as follows:
3-10 cm in diameter, conic to convex, expanding to broadly convex and eventually flattening in maturity with a pronounced, persistent, and broad umbo.