Botanical and Chemical Characterisation of a Forensic Mushroom Specimen of the Genus Psilocybe

A sample of mushroom seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Vancouver was shown by morphological examination to be a species of Psilocybe , a genus known to contain psychotomimetic principles. Chemical tests proved the presence of psilocybin (1.5% of the dried mushroom) as well as several other indole alkaloids. Psilocin could not be detected. Procedures suitable for routine examination of similar samples are described.