Gordon Wasson, a prominent mycologist, spent several summers in the Adirondacks studying the region’s fungi. While there, he explored various mushrooms, including the possibility of finding Psilocybe species. Psilocybe mushrooms contain psychoactive compounds, making them of interest to both scientists and enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, Wasson did not find any Psilocybe mushrooms during his time in the Adirondacks. However, his interest in psychoactive mushrooms eventually led him to Mexico, where he discovered and studied Psilocybe mushrooms that were used by indigenous peoples in religious ceremonies.
Wasson’s discovery of the use of Psilocybe mushrooms in Mexico had a significant impact on the field of ethnobotany and popular culture. His work helped to establish the presence and cultural importance of psychoactive mushrooms in indigenous communities, and inspired many people to explore the use of these mushrooms for spiritual and therapeutic purposes.
While Wasson did not find any Psilocybe mushrooms in the Adirondacks, his explorations and observations of the region’s fungi were critical to our understanding of the region’s biodiversity and ecological roles. His work in the Adirondacks laid the foundation for his later discoveries of the use of psychoactive mushrooms in Mexico, which had a significant impact on the field of ethnobotany.
References:
- Krug, Pamela J. (2013). The Mycological Legacy of R. Gordon Wasson. Mycologia. 105(3): 549-560.
- Wasson, R. Gordon. (1957). Mushrooms, Russia, and History. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 84(1): 50-62.
- Wasson, R. Gordon. (1961). Seeking the Magic Mushroom. Life Magazine. 35(21): 101-120.