Panaeolus cyanescens is commonly known as “Blue Meanies.” The name tells a lot about this species; when harvested, they turn midnight blue and deliver quite a punch. Blue Meanies is one of the strongest psilocybin-containing mushrooms despite its small size. P. cyanescens produces little medium-sized brown to white mushrooms that inexperienced enthusiasts often overlook. 

Panaeolus mushrooms are very common; they grow worldwide in tropical and temperate climates. Blue Meanies is a tropical/subtropical grassland species frequently discovered in dung, much like another well-known fungus. You might easily overlook a patch of Blue Meanies if you weren’t looking for the more common Psilocybe cubensis. The former is said to have two to three times the psilocybin content of cubensis. 

What Are Blue Meanies Mushrooms?

Blue Meanies is a species of Panaeolus. This widespread genus’ of mushrooms is normally tiny, contains black spores, and frequently grows on dung. However, not all Panaeolus species contain psilocybin. Blue Meanies and Panaeolus cinctulus are two of thirteen psilocybin-producing species in the Panaeolus genus. Because of the uneven dots or patches of color on their gills, Panaeolus mushrooms are known as “mottlegills.” 

But there’s something more to note about this specific species: Blue Meanies is a fungus with multiple names. So many that determining what to call this specific species can be confusing. To begin, “Panaeolus” in Greek means “all variegated,” which describes the fungi’s speckled texture. The species name, cyanescens, derived from the Latin word “cyaneus,” which means “blue,” referring to the hue of the flesh after bruising. 

“Blue Meanies” refers to Panaeolus cyanescens. The Beatles’ psychedelic film “Yellow Submarine” inspired Panaeolus cyanescens’ name. Gartz claims that Australia invented this popular name. Besides “Gold Tops,” “Blue Meanies” is another frequent name for psilocybin-containing mushrooms. 

Where do Do Blue Meanies Mushrooms grow?

Blue Meanies grows in the tropics and subtropics. The mushrooms grow all year in tropical areas. Depending on rain and humidity, they grow in the subtropics from late spring to fall. They appear in temperate zones during the wet and humid summer months. Blue Meanies grow solitary or in bunches on a cow or horse manure in pastures and meadows. They emerge during the spring or wet seasons.

Their distribution in the United States extends from Florida to the Gulf Coast, where it fruits almost all year on “cow pies”. Its hypothesized that Blue Meanies introduced to the Hawaiian islands during the early 1800s when cattle transported from the Philippines. They are now found throughout the Northern and Southern Hemispheres’ tropical and subtropical zones. Blue Meanies mushrooms may also found in Mexico, South America (Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru), Eastern Australia, India, Bali, Southeast Asia, South Africa, France, and Italy. 

Is Psilocybe related to Panaeolus?

Psilocin hypothesized to protect the developing fruit body against predation by either poisoning the predator’s nervous system or impairing its capacity to feed. The ability to reduce predation has ecological benefits. Some Panaeolus have developed the capacity to defend themselves with psilocybin due to close interaction with Psilocybe. 

Not all Panaeolus spp. Contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. Panaeolus and Psilocybe are not related. Certain Panaeolus species lost the capacity to make psilocybin, or something unusual is happening. Its currently thought that some Panaeolus species acquired the ability to synthesize psilocybin via “horizontal gene transfer.” Bacteria can transfer good genetic material, although this can also happen between bacteria and fungi occasionally. By sharing the same habitat and frequently the same substrate, its believed that the capacity to manufacture psilocybin moved from a genus that had evolved the ability to create psilocybin species to one that hadn’t. 

Potency of Blue Meanies

In the early 1960s, Albert Hofmann investigated Panaeolus cyanescens, then known as Copelandia cyanescens, following reports of “intoxications” induced by a dung-loving fungus from southern France. After studying the fruiting bodies, Hofmann discovered larger concentrations of psilocin but only traced amounts of psilocybin. Although the origins of these samples unknown to Hofman, their actual origins were soon revealed; they grown from the manure of horses imported from Indonesia to compete in a horse race. 

As previously said, this species is highly powerful. Because pes hawaiian mushrooms contain more psilocin than psilocybin, the effects may be felt rapidly. Blue Meanies typically said to be two to three times stronger than cubensis. However, there has been little published research to back up claims concerning the effectiveness of these mushrooms. According to Funghead, these mushrooms’ total psilocybin and psilocin concentration ranges from 0.5 to 2.95 percent dry weight. 

How To Grow Blue Meanies

Blue Meanies mushrooms can grow with Blue Meanie Mushroom Spores. However, they are more difficult to produce than Psilocybe cubensis. They may cultivated outside in an

appropriate environment. They can grown indoors with the right equipment, but it takes time and a lot of care and attention. They regarded as a more intermediate and complex project—previous experience with cubensis needed before attempting to cultivate Blue Meanies. 

As with any mushroom growing, a few failed tries are likely but remain persistent. Panaeolus cyanescens does not develop as quickly as Panaeolus cubensis and usually takes twice as long to generate pins after being exposed to fruiting conditions. The longer it takes to produce mushrooms, the greater the chance of contamination. As a result, sanitation is a key aspect of mushroom cultivation. Its also advised if you have prior familiarity with case layers. 

Benefits of Blue Meanies

Psilocybin and psilocin are the two primary psychedelics present in blue meanies. These psychedelics are hallucinogens that influence the brain and impact mood, emotions, cognition, perception of reality, and more. The mushrooms produce psychedelics as a defense system against predators. When a predator takes enough of these psychotropic drugs, it alters both its brain and appetite. However, using mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin can improve mental health.