The genus Psilocybe in Italy
Giuseppe Venturella, Manuela Rollini, Giulia Mirabile, Nicola Favia, Maria Letizia Gargano
Italian Botanist December 22, 2025 DOI: 10.3897/italianbotanist.20.181001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Psilocybe taxa recorded in Italy |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Checklist Genus Taxonomy biology Zoology Distribution mathematics Nomenclature Ecology |
| Key findings | Nine Psilocybe taxa are confirmed for Italy, including two newly recorded species, and the authors argue for legalizing their clinical use. |
Abstract
In the absence of specific studies on the Psilocybe genus in Italy, we provide information on the taxonomy, habitat, ecology, and distribution of the nine taxa currently recorded for Italy. A nomenclatural update of Psilocybe taxa reported in the Checklist of Italian Fungi (Basidiomycetes), published in 2005, is provided and seven scientific binomials are confirmed. In addition, P. medullosa and P. serbica , recently found in Trentino-Alto Adige/ Südtirol and Calabria respectively, are added to the list of taxa of the genus Psilocybe in Italy. Data on distribution and ecological categories of each taxon are also reported together with a molecular analysis. Considering how easily Psilocybe species can be found in Italy and their psilocybin and psilocin content, the authors hope that Italy will also legalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms in clinical therapies, as already permitted in many other countries.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- The pharmacology of psilocybin Addiction Biology October 1, 2002
- Psilocybin – Summary of knowledge and new perspectives European Neuropsychopharmacology December 17, 2013
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development Frontiers in Pharmacology July 5, 2018
- Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration Frontiers in Psychiatry December 1, 2022
and 9 more in the library