The Cap of Liberty: Roman Slavery, Cultural Memory, and Magic Mushrooms

The Liberty Cap mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata), the most common psychedelic fungus in Britain, gets its name from an ancient Roman social practice. The article traces the etymology of this name, resolving long-standing speculation in modern literature about how a magic mushroom came to be called after a symbol of Roman freedom.

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Abstract

The commonest psychedelic mushroom growing naturally in Britain, Psilocybe semilanceata, is known in English as the Liberty Cap. This name, which references an ancient Roman social practice, has caused considerable speculation in modern literature. This article provides a conclusive etymology for how a magic mushroom acquired this obscure name.