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Liberty Cap
Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms; p 273-274
84 LIBERTY CAP. Psilocybe semilanceata (Fr. ex. Secr.) Kum. Strophariaceae, Agaricales. DESCRIPTION: Slimy, narrowly conical, brown to tan cap with brownish gills and smooth, off-white stalk; in pastures and manured areas. CAP: 3/8 to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm) wide; sharply conical, often peaked, and not expanding; sticky, smooth; brownish, fading to tan, bruising blue on margin. GILLS: attached, close, broad; grayish, becoming dark brown. STALK: 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) high, 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) thick; very thing, whitish. VEIL: partial veil evanescent. SPORES: 11-14 x 7-8 microns; elliptical, smooth, with pore at tip. Spore print purple-brown. EDIBILITY: Hallucinogenic. SEASON: Late August - November. HABITAT: Scattered to numerous, in tall grass and grassy hummocks in cow pastures. RANGE: Widely distributed; common in Pacific NW.; also reported in Quebec. LOOK-ALIKES: The hallucinogenic P. pelliculosa and P. silvatica grow in wood chips or mulch, and have conical caps. COMMENTS: This species is one of the most familiar hallucinogens of the Oregon coast.
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Colorado River Toad - Bufo alvarius
The Audubon Nature Guides: DESERTS
Colorado River Toad - Bufo alvarius: 3-7 inches (7.7-17.9 cm) Largest native toad in the United States. Olive to dark brown, with a relatively smooth, shiny skin. Elongate parotoid glands touch prominent bony ridges on head. 1 or 2 white warts at corner of mouth. Other large warty glands on hind legs. Belly is cream-colored. VOICE: A weak low-pitched toot, lasting less than a second. BREEDING: May-July. HABITAT: Desert. Prefers damp areas near permanent springs or man-made watering holes but may be found in arid grasslands and woodlands. From sea level to 5300' (1600m). RANGE: Extreme SE. of California to extreme SW. New Mexico, south into Mexico. COMMENTS: Nocturnal. The Colorado River Toad sometimes appears before seasonal rains fill breeding pools. When the rains finally arrive, breeding commences. It eats insects, spiders, and lizards.
Ashford, M. L. J.; Boden, P.; Ramsey, R. L.
Enhancement of desensitization of quisqualate-type glutamate receptor by the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine
The Journal of Experimental Biology v141 p73-86 January 1989
SUBJECTS: Ketamine Muscle/Innervation Chemoreceptors Grasshoppers
Discover, December 1992
Plants - Oh, Wilbur
Stipa robusta, "Sleepy Grass" to its friends, is a tough plant. Not only does it survive in the rugged terrain of the southwestern Rocky Mountains, but it has also evolved a unique defense against animals that graze on its feathery plumes. It harbors a fungus called Acremonium, which produces a powerful poison that can knock a horse cold for up to a week. The fungus gets passed on to future generations through the plant's seeds. "The fungus gets a home and gets fed, and the grass gets protection from critters that want to eat it," says Indiana University biologist Keith Clay. "So it's a mutually beneficial association, not a disease." In pastures where every other type of vegetation has been nibbled to the ground, one can easily spot the sleepy grass - tall, proud, and untouched.
Clay and his co-workers Richard Petroski and Richard Powell from the US Department of Agriculture have now isolated the chemical that gives the sleepy grass fungus its potent punch. It is an alkaloid called lysergic acid amide. Alkaloids are the poisons in hundreds of poisonous plants, and lysergic acid amide has been found before in a few of them, but never in such high concentrations as in sleepy grass.
Lysergic acid amide is a potent sedative in humans as well; Central American Indians are said to quiet crying infants by feeding them a single sleepy-grass seed. In fact, in the 1950s American pharmaceutical manufacturers (who didn't know about the sleepy grass connection) considered marketing the compound as a prescription sleeping aid. Bu the idea ran aground on a public relations problem. Lysergic Acid amide has a close chemical relative called lysergic acid diethylamide, which is more commonly known as LSD. "When the pharmaceutical industry discovered the compound's link to LSD and all the problems associated with that," says Clay, "they essentially dropped it."
DUNFORD, MARTIN; HOLLAND, JACK
Coffee Shops and Tea Rooms
THE REAL GUIDE - AMSTERDAM (The Guide for the '90s; Prentice Hall Travel
COFFEE SHOPS AND TEA ROOMS: As with bars, there are two types of Amsterdam coffee shops: those whose principal business is the buying, selling, and consuming of dope, and the more traditional places that sell neither dope nor alcohol but do serve sandwiches or a light menu for lower prices than you'd pay in a full-fledged restaurant; some offer pastries or chocolates. The so-called 'smoking' coffee shops are easy to identify: brightly lit, with starkly modern furniture and an accent on healthy food, they're about as far from the cozy Dutch 'brown cafe' as it's possible to get. Smoking dope is the primary pastime (all sell a range of hash and grass), and most also have video (loud) music, and a selection of games from baccarat to pool; they're open roughly from late morning/midday until around midnight. They are currently booming, and the major Amsterdam chains - The Bulldog, Prix d'Ami, Fancy Free - seem to be opening new branches all the time: they may be identified by a cannabis-leaf sign and a slogan claiming that they serve the best quality goods on the Amsterdam dope scene. For real dope heads there's the Hash Info Museum (p93) which survives despite crackdowns. For more on dope see p.12.
DUNFORD, MARTIN; HOLLAND, JACK
Smoking.
THE REAL GUIDE - AMSTERDAM (The Guide for the '90s; Prentice Hall Travel
('SMOKING' COFFEE HOUSES) BASJOE: Kloveniersburgal 62. Dark and convivial coffee shop. BIBA: HAZANSTRAAT 15. iN A STREET OF COFFEE SHOPS, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST. BON AMI: Brouwersgracht 137. Very loud music. THE BULLDOG: Leidseplein 13-17; O.Z. Voorburgwal 90; O.Z. Voorburgwal 132 Helkveld 7. The biggest and most famous of the coffee-shop chains, this has come a long way from its pokey Red Light district-dive origins. With a main branch housed in the former police station on glitzy Leidseplein (the 'Palace'), the Bulldog has now reached the height of - and commerical success. The dope they sell comes in neat little brand-labeled packets and the Leidsplein branch has a large cocktail bar, coffee shop, juice bar, souvenir shop, and a GVB ticket counter. EXTASE: Oude Hoogstraat 2. Part of a chain run by the initiator of the Hash Info Museum. Considerably less chichi than the big cheeses. FAIRY NUFF: 2e Laurierdwarstraat 1b. Small and quiet, with a low-key atmosphere. FANCY FREE, Martelaarsgracht 4; Haarlemmerstraat 64; Leliegracht 6. Slick plush, and commerical, very much in The Bulldog mold. GOA, Kloveniersburgwal 42. A member of the Extase chain (see above) GRAND PRIX, Reguliersdwarsstraat 29. Once part of the Prix d'Ami outfit, and little changed since. GRASSHOPPER, N.Z. Voorburgwal 59. One of the city's more welcoming 'smoking' coffee shops, though at times overwhelmed by tourists. HAUSSMANN, Singel 485; Zieseniskade 2. White, modernistic coffee shop with more than a hint of soulessness PIE IN THE SKY, 2e Laurierdwarsstraat 64. Beautiful canal-corner setting, great for outside summer lodging PRIX D'AMI, Haringpakkersteeg 3; Nieuwendijk 239. Super-entrepreneurial Amsterdam chain, but with little of the character of its rivals. ROMA, O.Z. Achterburgwal 162. Red Light district smoker, par of the Extase/Goa concern. RUSLAND, Rusland 16. One of the first Amsterdam coffee shops, and a cramped and vibrant place that's a favorite with both dope fans and tea addicts (43 different kinds). A little worse for the recent extension, but still a cut above the rest. SIBERIE, Brouwersgracht 11. Set up by the former staff of Rusland and notable for the way it has avoided the over-commercialization of the large chains. Very relaxed, very friendly, and worth a visit whether you want to smoke or not. SO FINE, Prinsengracht 30. Long-established, coffee shop, big on atmosphere at night with good food and music. a pool table, and a video room.
KAMPHUES J; DROCHNER W
Mutterkorn in Futtermitteln--ein Beitrag zur Klarung moglicher mutterkornbedingter Schadensfalle. [Ergot in feed--the clarification of possible ergot-related infirmity cases]
Tierarztl Prax. 1991 Feb; 19(1): 1-7
Practicing veterinarians should realize that the symptoms of ergot intoxication may differ markedly. Gangrenous alterations (ears, feet, tail) as well as convulsive signs (excitability) are described as typical symptoms of ergotism. It is noteworthy that inadequate development of the udder and lactation failure may also be related to ergot contaminated diets. Ergot contamination of diets is caused by grain infection with Claviceps purpurea and sometimes by infection of grass and weed (in grain). The frequency of ergot contamination is high in rye, triticale and wheat and varies in relation to region, climatic conditions and kind of wheat. For diagnosis of ergot contamination a thorough visual inspection of the used diet is to be recommended. Due to the variation of ergots (infected grain, infected weed) it is difficult to determine the contamination in prepared feed mixtures. The anamnestic procedure, method of visual feed inspection as well as a chromatographic method for detection of ergot alkaloids in feed samples are described to facilitate the detection of possible ergot related cases.
KINGSLEY
Plants of the United States and Canada. R581.69 K55
Stipa robusta Scribn. (= S. vaseyi Scribn.). Sleepygrass
DESCRIPTION: Stout, perennial grass, forming erect clumps mostly 2 to 4 feet tall. Leaves flat 5/16 inch wide, up to 2 feet long. Inflorescence a green or greenish-yellow terminal panicle, to 1 foot long; branches several at each node, variable in length, bearing several spikelets, strongly directed upward, hence panicle compact and narrow; spikelets narrow, about 1/2 inch long, tipped by a long, dry, twisted awn; awns about 1 inch long.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: Dry plains, hills, and open woods, Colorado to Texas, Arizona and Mexico.
POISONOUS PRINCIPLE. Unknown. Some attempts to extract the active principle have been reported [922].
TOXICITY, SYMPTOMS AND LESIONS. Reports of the toxicity of sleepygrass to horses in New Mexico date back to 1887. Ingestion of a moderate amount produces a profound, but not lethal, somnolent or stuporous condition sometimes lasting several days. In times when the horse was the principal means of travel, serious delay and inconvenience occasionally befell those unaware of the danger in this plant [55,69,735].
Following a number of field reports and correspondence concerning the toxicity of sleepygrass to horses, the United States Department of Agriculture undertook feeding experiments at the Salina (Utah) experiment station and in the field [998]. It was found that 0.6 per cent of an animal's weight of plant (green-weight basis) was the least toxic dose for the horse and produced transitory depression or drowsiness. One percent was the average effective single dose. Larger amounts provokes somewhat, but not proportionately, greater symptoms. Symptoms appear in 6 to 24 hours and lasted 24 to 48 hours. Field cases have been reported in which as much as a week elapsed before all signs of poisoning had disappeared. Great variation in degree of sleepiness was found. Mildly poisoned animals were dejected, inactive and withdrawn. With greater dose animals became somnolent, presenting symptoms of drooping head, closed eyes, and irregularity of gait if forced to move. Severely poisoned animals lie on the sternum or flat on the side with head resting on the ground. These horses are in profound slumber from which they can be raised only momentarily with great difficulty. In such animals the pulse and respiration become weak and irregular. A definite rise in temperature has been recorded in many instances.
Despite field reports of toxicity to cattle, doses of active material up to 3.4 percent of an animal's weight in a single day failed to bring out symptoms. In sheep, doses of about 2 percent of an animal's weight provoked depression and a rise in temperature, but not sleepiness.
CONDITIONS OF POISONING: Reports of poisoning have come from only a portion of the area in which Stipa robusta is found, namely the Sacramento and Sierra Blanca Mountains of New Mexico. Material collected from several other areas failed to bring on poisoning although given in more than adequate amount in feeding experiments [998]. The plant retains full toxicity on drying. Sleepygrass was readily and repeatedly taken by horses during feeding experiments, bit it is generally believed among ranchers that horses once poisoned will refuse subsequently to graze the plant.
Lyons, Philip C.; Plattner, Ronald D.; Bacon, Charles W.
Occurrence of peptide and clavine ergot alkaloids in tall fescue grass
Science v232 p487-9 April 25 1986
SUBJECTS: Ergotism Fescue Alkaloids Plants, Chemical analysis of
Marten, G. C., A. B. Simons, and J. R. Frelich.
Alkaloids of reed canarygrass as influenced by nutrient supply.
Agronomy Journal 66: 363-368. (1974)
"Because total alkaloid concentration in this grass [Phalaris arundinacea] is highly heritable,plant breeders should be able to develop low-alkaloid cultivars."
Phalaris aquatica, Phalaris tuberosa, Phalaris arundinacea, Harding Grass, Reed Canarygrass
See also:Phalaris, PLANT DATABASE, Hyperreal
Note: Phalaris tuberosa var stenoptera, Phalaris tuberosa and Phalaris aquatica are synonyms for the same plant.
SCHULTES; HOFMANN
Seeds of the Hekula Spirit.
Plants of the Gods. p 116
PHOTO:Boa Vista, Rio Branco. Open grasslands or 'campos' of the northern Amazon of Brazil 'Colombian Andes, east across the 'llanos' or plains to the upper Orinoco. Parts of southernmost Venezuela, northernmost Brazil. 'Anandenanthera peregrina occurs naturally and sometimes apparently cultivated in the plains or grassland areas of the Orinoco basin of Colombia and Venezuela, in light forests in southern British Guiana, and in the Rio Branco area of the northern Amazonia of Brazil. It may also occur in isolated savanna areas in the Rio Madiera region.
Simons, A. B., and G. C. Marten.
Relationship of indole alkaloids to palatability of Phalaris arundinacea L.
Agronomy Journal 63:915-919. (1971)
"We screened 411 diverse genotype of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) for palatability to sheep. Indole alkaloid type and concentration were estimated in selected plants... Either gramine or 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) + N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were the primary alkaloids in all genotypes."
STAMETS, PAUL; CHILTON, J S
Growing Parameters for Psilocybe cyanescens (1)
The Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home; Agarikon Press, Olympia WA; Chapter IX, p 196-203
(Growing Parameters for Psilocybe cyanescens)
SPECIES: Psilocybe cyanescens Wakefield
= Geophila cyanescens (Maire) Kuhn. & Romagn
= Psilocybe mairei Singer STRAINS: St. Clair. Many wild strains can be adapted to cultivation
COMMON NAMES: Cyan; Grandote
GREEK ROOT: Psilocybe comes from the Greek root 'psilos' meaning bald head
The species name cyanescens is from 'cyaneus' or blue for the color reaction of the flesh upon bruising
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Cap ,20-50 mm. broad, convex to broadly convex to plane in age with an elevated and undulating margin which is, in turn, translucent-striate. The cap surface is smooth and viscid when moist from a separable gelatinous pellicle ('skin'). The color is caramel brown, fading to yellow-born to straw colored from the center. the gills are attached in an adnate to adnexed fashion, dull brown with whitish edges. The stem is 60-80 mm. long by 2-5 mm. thick, is whitish, silky and becomes blue where injured, with rhizomorphs protruding about the stem base. The partial veil is cortinate (cobweb-like), leaving little or no trace on the stem. Its spore print is dark purplish brown
NATURAL HABITAT: Clustered in woody habitats; in soils high in the tissue of deciduous trees; or in tall grass. The species grows throughout the Pacific Northwest in areas well mulched by woody debris of deciduous and coniferous trees (typically not associated with bark). It has been reported from England and is thought to be broadly distributed throughout the European continent.
STEBBINS
Colorado River Toad - Bufo alvarius
Amphibians and Reptiles of California
Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius): IDENTIFICATION: 3-6 inches. Our largest toad; dark brown or olive above, with smooth skin, long kidney-shaped parotoids, and prominent cranial crests; several large warts on hind legs stand out conspicuously against smooth skin a whitish knob at angle of mouth. HABITAT: Brushy desert with creosote bush and mesquite; farmland. Frequents washes, springs, river bottoms, temporary rain pools, canals, and irrigation ditches. RANGE: Lower Colorado River and irrigated lowlands of Imperial County. HABITS: Nocturnal. More aquatic than most toads. Seeks refuge in burrows of other animals. Most active from May to July. Eggs, to around 8,000, in long strings; jelly envelope single. Voice resembles ferryboat whistle but weak, hoots lasting 1/2 to 1 second. Throat pale in male; vocal sac weak. When molested assumes butting pose and may squirt poison over 10 feet from parotoid glands; poison, if swallowed in quantity, capable of paralysing and occasionally killing dogs. Coons disembowel these toads and eat internal organs only. FOOD: Insects (grasshoppers, bugs, beetles, termites, ants, wasps, moths, and caterpillars), spiders, scorpions, centipedes, snails, small lizards, other amphibians (toads, spadefoots), and mice. Comes to outdoor lights to catch insects.
The Grass Case: Defense for the Religious Use of Marihuana Submitted to the United States Supreme Court. Stephen [Gaskin] and the Farm Legal Crew. The book Publishing Co. 1974. original price $1. photocopy.
TIDESTROM & KITTELL
Flora of Arizona and New Mexico.
QK147.T5 (1941)
Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. Metasperm. Minn. 388. 1892; Mimosa illinoensis Michx. Fl Bor. Amer. 2:254. 1803; Acacia brachyloba Willd. Sp. Pl. 4:1701. 1806; Plant glabrous or puberulent with ascending stems 0.3 to 1 meter long; leaflets about 15 pairs, linear, glabrous or ciliate; pods curved, capitate. Larrea and Grass belts. Minnesota and South Dakota, southward to Florida, Texas and New Mexico. In fields about St. Thomas, Nevada, where it was probably introduced.