Scientific Name
Gymnopilus junonius (formerly G. spectabilis)
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Gymnopilus junonius is a species of mushroom in the Cortinariaceae family. Commonly known as Laughing Gym, Laughing Jim, Spectacular rustgill.
This large inedible orange mushroom is typically found growing on tree stumps, logs, or tree bases. Some subspecies of this mushroom contain the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin. In Japan this mushroom is called waraitake, which translates to "laughing mushroom" The cap ranges from 7 to 20 cm across, is convex, and is bright orange, orange/brown, or reddish-brown with a dry scaly surface. The stem is 25 to 265 mm long, 8 to 9 mm thick, and often narrows near the base. Each mushroom can weigh several pounds. The frail ring is dusted with rusty orange spores, the flesh is yellow and the gill attachment to the stem is adnate to sub-decurrent.
It has a bitter taste, stains red with KOH and turns green when cooked in a pan.
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They are in a different kingdom — the fungi. Fungi include the familiar mushroom-forming species, plus the yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts.
Always be cautious when eating edible mushrooms. Be absolutely sure of the ID, and only eat a small amount the first time you try it to avoid a reaction..
If you want to reliably have a psilocybin experience, then you don’t want to consume Gymnopilus junonius. There have been reports of this species containing psilocybin (in low amounts), but there are many other sources refuting this. It is possible that it has been confused with a subspecies or lookalike that has psychoactive effects.
Supposed psychoactive effects are why Gymnopilus junonius has been called the laughing gym mushroom. This is because psilocybin is known to produce uncontrollable laughter.
You could experience the effects of psilocybin and psilocin by consuming one of the laughing gym mushroom’s subspecies, which are reported to contain these compounds, but these may also contain neurotoxic chemicals, which can result in unpleasant effects.
Is Gymnopilus junonius edible? Due to its bitter taste, it is considered inedible, although some people do consume them and claim to experience subjective effects. This may be due to the presence of the kava-like compounds bis-noryangonin and hispidin.
In this guide, we will be examining the different aspects of the laughing gym mushroom, including:
How to identify Gymnopilus junonius, highlighting its subspecies and lookalikes as well
How to grow Gymnopilus junonius
Potency
Dosage
Laughing gym mushroom effects
If you want to use Gymnopilus junonius, you should be aware of the law surrounding psilocybin mushrooms where you live, as mushrooms containing this psychedelic compound are illegal in most countries around the world.
If you want to grow and possess psilocybin-containing mushrooms, be aware of the legal risks.
Yet, as we will describe in greater detail, it is not clear if this species does actually contain psilocybin and psilocin. If it doesn’t, then you will not face any legal risks, even if the kava-like compounds it contains are psychoactive (since these are not controlled substances).
On the other hand, if the laughing gym mushroom contains psilocybin in small quantities, this would make it illegal to cultivate and possess, even if these concentrations are very low.