Psilocybe ochraceocentrata: Golden Teacher’s Newest, Closest Relative?

Q: Is P. ochraceocentrata safe to eat?

It’s hard to say whether P. ochraceocentrata is perfectly safe. We know it bears many similarities to the well-researched P. cubensis, indicating that ochraceocentrata is safe to eat in similar doses. However, more studies are needed to determine the risk profile of any emergent species of fungi.

Q: Why is P. ochraceocentrata growing in popularity?

P. ochraceocentrata is becoming increasingly popular, experts say, because of its ease of cultivation. Like P. cubensis, it’s simple and reliable to cultivate, though the pros note that ochraceocentrata likes a bit more fresh air.

Mushrooms have long, sprawling family trees with branches that stretch farther than you think. Take Psilocybe ochraceocentrata, a “cryptic species” recently discovered by Western researchers in Africa. This emergent species bears many hallmarks of the widely utilized psychedelic mushroom P. cubensis - you might know it as Golden Teacher, the most commonly used species of psychoactive fungi.

However, the differences are more interesting than the similarities. Here’s what we know so far about P. ochraceocentrata, including its potency, effects, and why it has mycologists so excited.

What To Know About Psilocybe Ochraceocentrata

P. ochraceocentrata appears to be the closest known relative of P. cubensis, according to research by Bradshaw & colleagues just published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, in March 2026, after a pre-print became available in 2024.

The authors allege that P. ochraceocentrata and P. cubensis may have shared a common ancestor over 1.5 million years ago. According to Bradshaw, P. ochraceocentrata’s unique composition helps illuminate new research pathways for psychedelic fungi.

Quick Facts

Genus: Psilocybe

Common Name(s): Ochras

Potency: Moderate to intense

Notable Traits: Yellow-brown cap with a distinct spot in the middle, slender stem, blue bruising

Psilocybe ochraceocentrata is an emergent species, meaning there isn’t a large body of existing research on its unique properties. Due to its close genetic relatedness to P. cubensis, it would be expected that P. ochraceocentrata produces similar effects. We also know that P. ochraceocentrata harbors additional compounds which may have anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties.

However, many testimonials from psilonauts report consistent differences in the effects profile between the species, with some people preferring the experience that P. ochraceocentrata provides.

Flat vector side-by-side comparison illustration of Psilocybe ochraceocentrata and Psilocybe cubensis (Golden Teacher), showing their shared ancestor 1.5 million years ago, potency differences, and unique anti-inflammatory compound profile.

Many people report it as yielding a smoother experience with less body load and an easier come-up than P. cubensis. Others report differences in the headspace. Whether this is down to expectancy, or differences in the chemistry between the species shaping the effects attributed to each remains to be seen.

Interestingly, P. ochraceocentrata, the authors explained, has been cultivated and errantly sold as a strain called NSS, or Natal Super-Strength. What was assumed to be P. natalensis turned out to be something else altogether. “The science of fungal taxonomy is challenging, with species being tricky to identify,” says mycologist Dr. Sam Gandy.

Psilocybin is increasingly utilized in clinical settings as an adjunct therapy for mental health ailments like depression and PTSD. While it’s too early to know for sure, “there’s no good reason to suggest P. ochraceocentrata wouldn’t have clinical viability,” says Gandy. Some early research has even suggested that consuming the mushroom whole may “outperform” synthetic psilocybin.

Reported Effects & Experiences With Psilocybe Ochraceocentrata

Despite its initial collection in 2013, Bradshaw & colleagues’ research on P. ochraceocentrata is just now entering the spotlight. In March 2026, study co-author Breyten van der Merwe told Scientific American:

“New descriptions like [P. ochraceocentrata] reveal both diversity and how little we still know about African fungi.” On the upside, mycology is still an emerging field of study. Unfortunately, limited verifiable data on species like P. ochraceocentrata mean we’re forced to speculate about its acute effects.

Psilocybin Mushrooms: Effects & Emerging Research

Generally speaking, psychedelic mushrooms containing psilocybin are safe to consume in mild to moderate dosages.

Flat vector illustration of a person lying in a psilocybin ceremony with a facilitator seated nearby, with wavy brainwave graphs comparing the effects of P. ochraceocentrata versus P. cubensis on the psychedelic experience.

However, some cases of adverse effects following ingestion have been reported, and it’s worth getting informed about the risks.

Some research has highlighted how psilocybin’s safety profile for those with cardiovascular disease is “not fully known,” but there’s no firm clinical consensus yet, and more research is needed.

Consuming psilocybin-laden fungi can produce “mystical experiences,” with sensations such as:

A deep sense of interconnectedness and unity
Transcendence of time and space
Deeply felt positive mood (e.g. bliss, joy, serenity, love and reverence)
A noetic sense; that what is being revealed has truth and validity

Like any drug, the acute effects and side effects alike are contingent on the dose you take. For P. cubensis, most research involves administering 20 to 30 milligrams to participants in controlled settings.

Psilocybe ochraceocentrata: Origins & Classification

Due to its visual similarity to P. cubensis, Bradshaw & colleagues have noted that related species, such as P. ochraceocentrata, were sometimes misidentified by morphological screening.

Luckily, modern science has provided the tools to identify and discern subtle, DNA-level differences in mushroom species. Here’s the stat sheet for P. ochraceocentrata:

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Hymenogastraceae

Where It Grows Naturally

P. ochraceocentrata was discovered in the Miombo woodlands - a vast tropical forest and grassland region spanning African countries like Angola, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Like P. cubensis, ochraceocentrata propagates in animal droppings, particularly those of plant-eating mammals.

Flat vector illustration of an African Miombo woodland scene showing indigenous community gathering with mushrooms in the foreground and a scientist examining specimens under a microscope, depicting the natural habitat and cultural context of Psilocybe ochraceocentrata.

It’s worth noting that we have yet to locate authenticated samples of P. cubensis in Africa. How a relative as close as P. ochraceocentrata ended up in subtropical African forests is a key area of interest for mycologists.

According to Gandy, while novel to Western researchers, the Xhosa tribe of South Africa has long consumed P. ochraceocentrata both as a health tonic and a cultural “conduit to connect with their ancestors.”

Safety, Legal Status, & Harm Reduction

Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are illegal at the federal level in the United States. Still, there are therapeutic exceptions worth noting.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies psilocybin as Schedule I, making it illegal to possess, ingest, sell, or distribute.
Certain psychedelics have been granted “breakthrough therapy” status, providing an avenue for clinical testing to determine medical utility.
Psilocybin clinics are operational in states like Colorado and Oregon, where local legislatures have either decriminalized or granted medical exemptions.
Outside the United States, psychedelic regulations vary. Cultural norms play a role, too; rules around psychedelic drugs are often more lax in parts of Europe and Central America.

Legal status aside, it’s essential to practice harm reduction strategies when dealing with any psychedelic. There’s some evidence that psilocybin may intensify certain psychotic disorders, so keep your mental health history front-of-mind.

You should also follow proper set & setting protocols - curating a serene environment and recruiting a qualified sitter or facilitator are must-dos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Psilocybe ochraceocentrata discovered?

Psilocybe ochraceocentrata was discovered and documented in 2013. In 2026, researchers Bradshaw & colleagues published the first clinical research paper on the fungi, highlighting its genetic proximity to the commonly used P. cubensis, also known as Golden Teacher.

Is P. ochraceocentrata safe to eat?

It’s hard to say whether P. ochraceocentrata is perfectly safe. We know it bears many similarities to the well-researched P. cubensis, indicating that ochraceocentrata is safe to eat in similar doses. However, more studies are needed to determine the risk profile of any emergent species of fungi.

Why is P. ochraceocentrata growing in popularity?

P. ochraceocentrata is becoming increasingly popular, experts say, because of its ease of cultivation. Like P. cubensis, it’s simple and reliable to cultivate, though the pros note that ochraceocentrata likes a bit more fresh air.

Sources

Alexander James Bradshaw, Cathy Sharp, Breyten Van Der Merwe, Keaton S. Tremble, Bryn T. M. Dentinger; Discovery of the closest free-living relative of the domesticated ‘magic mushroom’ Psilocybe cubensis in Africa. Proc Biol Sci 1 March 2026; 293 (2066): 20252270.
Carhart-Harris, R.L., Roseman, L., Bolstridge, M. et al. Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Sci Rep 7, 13187 (2017).
Nkadimeng, S. M., Nabatanzi, A., Steinmann, C. M. L., & Eloff, J. N. (2020). Phytochemical, Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Psilocybe Natalensis Magic Mushroom. Plants, 9(9), 1127.
Nkadimeng SM, Steinmann CML, Eloff JN. Effects and safety of Psilocybe cubensis and Panaeolus cyanescens magic mushroom extracts on endothelin-1-induced hypertrophy and cell injury in cardiomyocytes. Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 18;10(1):22314. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79328-5. PMID: 33339902; PMCID: PMC7749179.
Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Richards WA, Richards BD, McCann U, Jesse R. Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011 Dec;218(4):649-65. doi: 10.1007/s00213-011-2358-5. Epub 2011 Jun 15. PMID: 21674151; PMCID: PMC3308357.
Simonsson O, Goldberg SB, Osika W, Stenfors CUD, Chaturvedi S, Swords CM, Narayanan J, Hendricks PS. Longitudinal associations of naturalistic psychedelic use with psychotic and manic symptoms. Psychol Med. 2025 Mar 31;55:e99. doi: 10.1017/S0033291725000716. PMID: 40162511; PMCID: PMC12094617.