Discovery of the closest free-living relative of the domesticated “magic mushroom” Psilocybe cubensis in Africa

The closest wild relative of the widely cultivated magic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis has been discovered in sub-Saharan Africa and named Psilocybe ochraceocentrata. DNA analysis of type specimens and multi-locus phylogenetic and molecular clock dating show the two species last shared a common ancestor about 1.5 million years ago (range 710,000 to 2.55 million years ago), long before cattle domestication or modern humans appeared. This refutes the long-held hypothesis that P. cubensis was introduced to the Americas via cattle brought from Africa around 1500 CE. Both species grow on herbivore dung, which likely pre-adapted P. cubensis to specialize on domesticated cattle dung. Ecological niche modeling indicates the species have been present across Africa, Asia, and the Americas over the last 3 million years.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The “magic mushroom” Psilocybe cubensis is cultivated worldwide for recreational and medicinal uses. Described initially from Cuba in 1904, there has been substantial debate about its origin and diversification. The prevailing view, first proposed by the Psilocybe expert Gastón Guzmán in 1983, is that P. cubensis was inadvertently introduced to the Americas when cattle were introduced to the continents from Africa and Europe (∼1500 CE), but that its progenitor was endemic to Africa. This hypothesis has never been tested. Here, we report the discovery of the closest wild relative of P. cubensis from sub-Saharan Africa, P. ochraceocentrata nom. prov. Using DNA sequences from type specimens of all known and accessable African species of Psilocybe , multi-locus phylogenetic and molecular clock analysis strongly support recognizing the African samples as a new species that last shared a common ancestor with P. cubensis ∼1.5 million years ago (∼710k - 2.55M years ago 95% HPD). Even at the latest estimated time of divergence, this long predates cattle domestication and the origin of modern humans. Both species are associated with herbivore dung, suggesting this habit likely predisposed P. cubensis to its present specialization on domesticated cattle dung. Ecological niche modeling using bioclimatic variables for global records of these species indicates historical presence across Africa, Asia, and the Americas over the last 3 million years. This discovery sheds light on the wild origins of domesticated P. cubensis and provides new genetic resources for research on psychedelic mushrooms.