Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of psychedelic mushroom (magic mushroom) in southern Africa, a discovery that is helping clarify the evolutionary history of one of the world’s most recognized hallucinogenic fungi.
The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, reveals that several African mushroom samples long believed to belong to the species Psilocybe cubensis are actually part of a different species. Researchers have named the newly identified fungus Psilocybe ochraceocentrata.
The investigation was led by Alexander James Bradshaw, a biologist at Clark University in the United States. According to the research team, the discovery resolves a long-standing scientific question about the origin and development of Psilocybe cubensis, the psychedelic mushroom species most commonly known and cultivated worldwide.
Psilocybe cubensis has gained global recognition due to its psychoactive compounds and its role in both recreational use and scientific studies exploring potential medical treatments. For decades, one widely accepted theory suggested that the mushroom originated in Africa and later spread to the Americas through cattle transported by European colonizers during the 16th century.
DNA analysis reveals a different species
Genetic testing played a central role in the new study. Scientists compared DNA from African mushroom specimens with reference samples of established Psilocybe species. The analysis showed that the African fungi previously labeled as P. cubensis were genetically distinct.
Researchers determined that the newly classified Psilocybe ochraceocentrata shares a common ancestor with P. cubensis that lived approximately 1.5 million years ago. This timeline significantly predates the domestication of cattle and the colonial-era movement of livestock across continents.
The findings suggest that P. cubensis did not simply appear in the Americas following the introduction of cattle, as earlier theories proposed. Instead, its evolutionary roots stretch much further back in time.
Field observations show that P. ochraceocentrata was collected in Zimbabwe and South Africa between 2013 and 2022. The mushrooms were typically found growing on or near decomposing dung from large herbivorous animals, a habitat similar to that of P. cubensis, which also thrives in dung-rich environments.
Modeling points to ancient global habitat
The study also used climate-based computer modeling to estimate where the ancestor of both species may have lived during the past three million years. The results indicated that suitable environments likely existed across parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Researchers say the discovery also highlights a broader challenge in fungal research: misidentified specimens in public genetic databases. Several samples had been incorrectly labeled as P. cubensis, including African examples that were actually part of the newly identified magic mushroom species.
By analyzing DNA from official reference specimens, scientists were able to correct those mistakes and clarify the relationships within the Psilocybe family.
The identification of Psilocybe ochraceocentrata adds a new branch to the fungal lineage and provides researchers with additional genetic data to study. Scientists say the finding improves understanding of how psychedelic mushrooms evolved and spread across different regions of the world.