Sylwetka bardzo ciekawego nowo odkrytego grzybka psylocybinowego zaprezentowana przez kanał YT Planet Fungi (https://www.youtube.com/@PlanetFungi/videos)

Od autorów:

While exploring a high-altitude meadow in South Africa with mycologist Prof. Peter Mortimer, we came across an unassuming mushroom with a fascinating story: Psilocybe maluti, a newly described magic mushroom species. It is named after the Maluti Mountains in the highlands of Lesotho, Africa.

Photographed in 2021 by citizen scientist Daniella Mulder, this mushroom was identified through DNA analysis and given a scientific name by Breyten van der Merwe at Stellenbosch University. But its significance goes beyond science—locally known as koae-ea-lekhoaba, it plays a role in the traditional healing practices of the Basotho people of Lesotho, offering a glimpse into Africa's rich but under-documented fungal heritage.

This discovery underscores the vital collaboration between mycologists, local people’s knowledge and citizen scientists in uncovering Africa's incredible fungal biodiversity. Who knows what other treasures await? 🌿

Full scientific paper here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00275514.2024.2363137#d1e2519

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