I don’t understand how psilocybin evolved multiple times. I don’t see it as a defense because animals aren’t likely to conflate tripping balls with something they ate an hour previous.
“Hey Grug, this shroom makes me understand the will of the great mammoth in the sky, let’s plant a shit-ton of it, just in case we need mammoth-advice in the future”
It looks like the evolutionary advantage is still debated. There’s a newer hyopethsis that, because psilocybin evolved during a period of heightened gastropod diversity, it could be defence against snails.
I believe Psilocybin cubensis evolved with this in mind, where the spores get on grass, then they do their funky thing in the cow guts. Cow poops them out and the mushrooms come out of the cow pies.
This could be the case with most/all dung loving mushrooms, IDK I’m just an amateur grower.
The spores in the cap are also active but with cubensis in low wind they tend to drop on neighboring caps. So being eaten directly and spread should have a higher load transited.
I’m no scientist either so take my thoughts with a cow pie.
I just remembered that shaggy mane, another dung loving species, tends to grow on leech fields or wherever septic tanks live. So I think they will just grow anywhere there’s poop, no need to be eaten.
I don’t understand how psilocybin evolved multiple times. I don’t see it as a defense because animals aren’t likely to conflate tripping balls with something they ate an hour previous.
“Hey Grug, this shroom makes me understand the will of the great mammoth in the sky, let’s plant a shit-ton of it, just in case we need mammoth-advice in the future”
It looks like the evolutionary advantage is still debated. There’s a newer hyopethsis that, because psilocybin evolved during a period of heightened gastropod diversity, it could be defence against snails.
In confused as to how it’s not considered a spore distribution strategy because mammals like tripping balls and spores can survive digestion… 🤷
I believe Psilocybin cubensis evolved with this in mind, where the spores get on grass, then they do their funky thing in the cow guts. Cow poops them out and the mushrooms come out of the cow pies.
This could be the case with most/all dung loving mushrooms, IDK I’m just an amateur grower.
The spores in the cap are also active but with cubensis in low wind they tend to drop on neighboring caps. So being eaten directly and spread should have a higher load transited.
I’m no scientist either so take my thoughts with a cow pie.
I just remembered that shaggy mane, another dung loving species, tends to grow on leech fields or wherever septic tanks live. So I think they will just grow anywhere there’s poop, no need to be eaten.