Blue Bruising Mushrooms: What Causes The Color?

doubleblindmag.com/blue-bruising-mushrooms

August 4, 2021

There is no shortage of diversity amongst mushrooms. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and
textures. Some dawn fibrous veils, others display long tendril-like manes, a few glow in the dark, and
some bruise blue. Many mycologists dedicate their lives to documenting and studying the intricacies of
these unusual organisms, and their discoveries never cease to surprise. One of the most recent findings?
A team of German scientists cracked the decades-long mystery behind blue bruising mushrooms.

Mushrooms Turning Blue? Here’s What It Means.

If your mushroom bruises blue, it might be psychedelic. Blue bruising is one of the notable characteristics
that can help identify a magic mushroom. To be more specific, blue bruising may indicate whether or not
a mushroom contains psilocybin and psilocin, the primary chemical compounds responsible for the
psychoactive effects of certain mushroom species.

Bruising is common in many different mushrooms. Even the common button mushroom, found in
abundance at the local supermarket, can develop bluish-purple bruises when injured. Yet, these bruises

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are not caused by ruptured blood vessels, like they are in humans and other animals. Instead, injury can
trigger chemical reactions in mushrooms that cause them to change color.

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Why Do Mushrooms Turn Blue?

The exact cause of the bluing reaction evaded scientists for decades. The first major breakthrough came
in 1967, nine years after Albert Hofmann successfully isolated and identified psilocybin. The discovery
came from a research team in Ithaca, New York, who observed a bluing reaction in rat brain cells treated
with psilocin. Oxidation of the compound triggered the color change, they articulated.

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The bluing reaction of Psilocybe cubensis: intact (left) and scalpel-injured mushroom (right). | via Injury-Triggered Bluing
Reactions of Psilocybe “Magic” Mushrooms

Psilocin is the primary psychedelic compound that comes from magic mushrooms—if you’d like to get
technical. Psilocybin often takes the limelight, but the chemical is converted into psychedelic psilocin in
the human body. It’s psilocin that makes it to your brain. Once there, the compound can induce brain
states that inspire profound and sometimes mystical experiences.

In a growing magic mushroom, however, psilocin is found only in trace amounts. Psilocin is an unstable
molecule that breaks down quickly. Psilocybin, in contrast, is more stable and thus found in greater
abundance in the fungi. But, despite psilocin’s scant appearance, researchers had a hunch that the
touchy molecule was the culprit behind the mushroom’s signature bluing reaction. It took scientists nearly
six decades, however, to solve the mushroom mystery.

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In 2019, German researcher Dirk Hoffmeister and his colleagues identified the source of the bluing
reaction psychoactive mushrooms. Picking, handling, or damaging the mushrooms triggers a chemical
reaction that activates two enzymes in the mushroom, PsiP and PsiL. The first enzyme, PsiP, converts
psilocybin to psilocin in the mushroom. This is similar to the way in which enzymes in the human liver
also catalyze psilocybin to psilocin. In our case, the reaction inspires a psychedelic experience.

Psilocin doesn’t necessarily hang around long in magic mushrooms, however. The compound is quickly
oxidized by the second enzyme, PsiL, rendering the molecule unstable. As a summary published by
Nature explains, this action “forces individual psilocin molecules to fuse into pairs, trios, and larger
groupings.” These psilocin conglomerates appear blue to the human eye because the new chemical
structures reflect blue light.

Do All Magic Mushrooms Bruise Blue?

Not all magic mushrooms bruise blue. You may be surprised to find out that not all psychedelic
mushrooms produce psilocin or psilocybin. The psychoactive properties of Amanita muscaria, for
example, are caused by the chemicals ibotenic acid and muscimol, not psilocin. This mushroom species,
and related species in the Amanita family, do not bruise blue.

Read: Liberty Caps Are Among The Most Potent Magic Mushrooms

Similarly, the bruising reaction varies in different psilocybin-containing species. Sometimes, a mushroom
will bruise just a faint blue, while other times, the bruising will appear very dark and hard to miss.
Psilocybin-containing magic mushrooms become less potent the more they bruise. The more bruising,
the more psilocin is converted into other inactive compounds. For this reason, it’s always recommended
to handle and harvest these mushrooms with great care.

Which Mushrooms Bruise Blue?

Several species of psychoactive mushrooms bruise blue. Blue bruising is one of the primary—but far from
the only—ways to identify a magic mushroom. Just because a mushroom bruises blue does not mean
that it’s psychoactive or that it’s safe. Blue bruising is far from the only feature used to identify magic
mushrooms. Spore color, gill structure, and the presence of a gelatinous pellicle are other indicators, just
to name a few. This guide, however, is not intended to provide comprehensive instruction on mushroom
identification. Yet, without further ado, here are three of the most common mushroom genera associated
with blue bruising:

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Unlike Reddit and other free online forums, get live access to experts to answer all your questions, look at
pictures of your grow, and more. Led by Dr. K Mandrake, a Ph.D. in mushroom botany currently working
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Psilocybe subaeruginascens | via Mushroom Observer

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Psilocybe genus
The most famous blue bruising mushrooms belong to the Psilocybe genus, which includes the legendary
Psilocybe cubensis. These mushrooms are perhaps the easiest for citizen mycologists to recognize.
Although, cubensis certainly isn’t the only blue-bruising Psilocybe around. Here are three of the most
popular psilocybes:

Psilocybe cubensis (Gold Cap)

Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty Cap)
Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy Cap)

It’s worth noting that, as Paul Stamets writes in his book Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World, some
psilocybe species may not bruise at all. Yet, for the amateur identifier, blue bruising is a hallmark
characteristic of psilocybe mushrooms.

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Panaeolus cyanescens | via Mushroom Observer

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Panaeolus genus
It’s a fact: Many psilocybin-containing species grow in dung. Members of the Panaeolus genus are prime
culprits. These humble brown mushrooms may not look like much, but the genus produces several potent
psychoactive species. Although, they certainly aren’t as popular or well-known as the psilocybes. One of
the most common blue-bruising Panaeolus mushrooms is Panaeolus cyanescens, more popularly known
as the “Blue Meanie.”

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Gymnopilus | via Mushroom Observer

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Gymnopilus genus
Both Psilocybe and Panaeolus mushrooms fall under the category of the humble “little brown mushroom.”
The same cannot be said for Gymnopilus, however. These mushrooms feature a striking red-orange
coloration, and their bruising appears green against such a bold backdrop. Common psychoactive
Gymnopilus species include:

Gymnopilus aeruginosus (Magic Blue Gym)

Gymnopilus spectabilis (Big Laughing Gym)

Citizen mycologists can often mistake Gymnopilus mushrooms for the poisonous—and potentially deadly
—Galerina genus. Galerinas also display striking red, orange, and yellow caps. So, it’s of vital importance
to correctly identify these mushrooms.

Read: How To Make A Spore Print

Non-Psychedelic Mushrooms That Bruise Blue

Not all blue-bruising mushrooms are psychoactive. Many mushrooms develop blue, purple, green, or
black coloration when handled—so many that they’re impossible to list in this short article. Color changes
are common in mushrooms both with injury and as the fungi age. Some mushrooms, which develop
blackish coloration at the base, can be poisonous. As such, it’s essential to do due diligence when
identifying mushrooms.

Still, for the edible and psychedelic mushroom lover, the following mushrooms are worthwhile to
recognize—just keep in mind that this brief list is far from comprehensive.

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 Gyroporus cyanescens | via Wikimedia Commons

Edible Blue Bruising Boletes (Gyroporus cyanescens)

The Gyroporus genus falls under the order Boletales, which contains many edible mushrooms. The
edible mushrooms in this order are colloquially referred to as Boletes. Several species of boletes bruise
blue when they are cut or damaged. Yet, the bluing reaction in these mushrooms is not caused by
psilocin. Instead, it’s the oxidation of another unique compound, gyrocyanin, that triggers the color
change. Gyrocyanin is not psychoactive.

Additionally, not all boletes are edible, blue-bruising or otherwise. Boletus satanas is very poisonous, for
example, as is Boletus rubroflammeus. Of the edible blue-bruising boletes, the species Gyroporus
cyanescens is the most well-known. It’s sometimes called the “cornflower bolete;” its cap features a
textured yellow appearance.

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Learn More

Lactarius indigo | via Wikimedia Commons

Edible Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo)

This mushroom does not simply bruise blue一it bleeds blue. Lactarius indigo secretes a milky blue liquid
when cut with a blade. But, here’s what’s the most surprising thing about this indigo wonder: It’s edible.
Although, its obscure color can certainly make it difficult to work up an appetite. The fact that it leaks
doesn’t help, either.

The blue coloration in Lactarius indigo does not come from the presence of psilocin. Instead, this
mushroom is blue throughout its lifecycle, sometimes becoming even darker blue when handled. The milk
it produces一properly called latex一is a notable characteristic for all species under the Lactarius genus.
The name itself derives from the Latin root lac, which means milk. Researchers speculate that the
mushroom produces this latex to deter predatory pests and parasites. It’s worth noting that the latex
produced by this mushroom is not the same as that produced by the rubber plant, chemically speaking.

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Inocybe calamistrata | via Boubínský prales virgin forest, a Central European refugium of boreal-montane and old-growth
forest fungi

Poisonous Inocybes
Every fungal genus can contain dozens of different mushroom species. Sometimes, a genus will contain
multiple species of edible or psychoactive mushrooms. Yet, often, a genus can also include mushrooms
that are very poisonous一just because a given mushroom belongs to a particular genus doesn’t mean
that it’s safe to consume.
Mushrooms in the Inocybe genus make for a perfect example.

Some Inocybes, like Inocybe aeruginascens, are psychedelic and contain psilocybin. Others, like Inocybe
calamistrata, are fatally toxic and may develop a dark blue-black color at the base. Differentiating one
inocybe species from another is exceptionally challenging, even for experienced mycologists. As such,
foraging this mushroom species is not recommended.

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Galerina marginata | via Mushroom Observer

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Poisonous Galerinas
Finally, the Galerinas. Do not take mushrooms in the Galerina genus lightly. Accidentally ingesting a
galerina mushroom can cause fatal organ damage. These wood-loving mushrooms produce rust-brown
spores and often feature red-orange coloration. They may grow near psilocybes and other psychedelic
mushrooms, which makes galerinas particularly dangerous to psychonauts foraging inclinations.

Galerinas provide an excellent example of why a blue bruising pattern alone is not a reliable way to
identify magic mushrooms. Like many mushrooms, the flesh of a galerina can change color with age and
with injury. It’s not unheard of for these mushrooms to develop blackish coloration on the stem一
confusing this black for blue can be a deadly mistake.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for support. If you’re looking for
peer support during or after a psychedelic experience, contact Fireside Project by calling or texting 6-
2FIRESIDE.
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