Derrumbes & Landslide Mushrooms of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

Psilocybe zapotecorum is a fungus with a very peculiar ecology: mostly growing out of vertical walls & scars created by landslides at elevations of 1400-2800 meters in the wet montane forests of central Mexico. (Videos in last three slides).
The habitat that this species occupies is almost always treacherous and incredibly steep, thus it's common name as one of 5 species of "derrumbe" (Spanish for "landslide) mushroom. It is also one of the most potent wild Psilocybin-containing mushroom species in the world, reportedly containing 2.6% psilocybin (and probably more). It bruises a very strong blue after being handled or touched, indicating the conversion of psilocybin to psilocin.
But the ecology here is what's mind-blowing. How does a mushroom species come to almost only grow out of vertical dirt walls at the bottom of dark canyons?
Due to the steep terrain here, which is in turn a result of the geologic setting : the Cocos tectonic plate to the South is subducting beneath the North American plate, causing a region of intense volcanism and uplift (see: Mexican Transvolcanic Belt).
This subduction zone to the South is responsible for the steep terrain, which is in turn responsible for the landslides, which coupled with the heavy and frequent rainfall (from warm moist air rising once it hits these mountains) is in turn responsible for the large amount of buried plant material in the substrate and walls of these ravines, which in turn provide an ample food source for Psilocybe zapotecorum.
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Thanks, GFY.

[@Kiu_8]

I read the description before seeing the whole thing, here's a somewhat on-topic comment: In the Florentine Codex, there's a chapter focused on mushrooms, some them hallucinogenic, the one known as teonanácatl (“flesh of the Gods” [quite possibly the Psilocybe mexicana] was highly valued and use for different rites, nowadays, as you surely know, some folks just wanna' get all crazy with em' for the vibes. As far as I'm aware, in places such as Acaxochitlán, Hidalgo, women have passed on the knowledge of identifying, recollecting & cooking all kinds of edible shrooms from generation to generation (most likely for more than 500 years), sadly, climate change has made the rainy season less humid which has gravely affected their foraging, alongside that, some authorities don't allow them to profit off of their hard work when they try to get some money for their family's well-being: they take away their baskets full of mushrooms and they throw them away to the garbage. Unbeknownst to you or not, videos such as yours help preserve this type of ancestral knowledge that was once pretty valued and that is sadly being lost since it's mainly knowledge passed orally; thank you for appreciating the wonders that Mexico has to offer and thank you for being so thorough and respectful about how you go about talking about all of this.

[@Kiu_8]

some of them* used* I'd edit the comment but I'd end up losing the ♥️, ain't no way in hell I'm letting that happen 💀.

[@AshiwiZuni]

Yes! I am zuni, and we have so many oral traditions that havent ever been written, and the elders are dying out without passing on that knowledge because the newer generations havent learned the language because of assimilation and whatnot. Many of these traditions include the foraging of species of medicinal plants, edible plants, fungi, and even theories about domestication of wild crops. Our creation myth even accounts for the creation of fossils. Although by supernatural means, it Shows that we understood that we came from the life before us even at that time. “The world before man was wet and muddy, with monsters of webbed feet and slimy skin roamed the land, the rainbow twins new that if this place were to be habitable to man, it must dry out. So when they shone their rainbow down on the earth, the planet dried and the monsters turned into sand and stone” “And when we emerged from the earth as grain, it was from a special grain picked by the mother. She cared for us with water and sun, and waited until we were ready to find our home.”

[@DISTR4CK]

@@Kiu_8 you can edit and keep the heart I've done it before. Getting a lot of likes on a comment and them changing what it originally said can be funny.

[@KOKO-uu7yd]

@@AshiwiZuni That is SO beautiful!!! Thank you. I would love to learn about non-Abrahamic, old older and ancient religions and traditions.

[@nedrow0]

That is not a myth btw

[@miguelmoreno1318]

This fucking rules. I’m jealous of the high level of mental databases you’re both able to store and call upon. Can’t wait for more content w/ Alan the collab is always must see

[@Face_Meat]

Tony and Alan together solid gold.

[@The_Crucible714]

When Tony does his “I need this for my collection” voice he sounds like Alan! _could this be intentional?_ 🤔

[@JoeSmith05]

I've been waiting on this since Alan posted his picture on Facebook. You two are fuckin amazing, thank you both for sharing your vast knowledge of our wonderful natural world.

[@julyjuniper573]

Braving the sketchiest terrain to bring botany, geology, AND mycology? Well, I’m grateful as fuck. I can’t stop being entranced by each little slice of habitat you show, and the story it tells about evolution in the language of regional morphology.

[@KACn5582]

Its always interesting with Tony and Alan together.

[@The_Crucible714]

BIG 🧠

[@simonlalonde7285]

My dad traveled to San José del Pacifico In Oaxaca where Zapotec people still forage and use psilosybe mushrooms ritually. I believe that’s where Maria Sabina the curandera lived and scientists found psilosybe cubensis and brought it to the US to study. I traveled there recently and it’s pretty much just overrun with hippies now and just an area for psychedelic tourism. Still gorgeous and a very special place.

[@drqazlop]

Maria Sabina is from near Huautla de Jiménez, a different mountain range. It also still sees some tourism but San Jose del Pacífico really channelled the tourism.

[@futureshocked]

omg, I love how you give the plants acting credits

[@Mach1Greeble]

Killing it with the music.

[@fireworkkhz]

Really enjoy the contrast in his and Alan's personality but communicate so well

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

We used to live together

[@tlaloque82]

¡Bienvenido a México Joey! Los mexicanos vivimos en un paraíso, y muchos no nos damos cuenta, es una lástima que hayas encontrado tanta basura. Muchas gracias por mostrarnos nuestro propio país.

[@jk-76]

It's exciting for me to find any mushroom in the wild. Finding anything you found in this video would be nuts.

[@victorandrovichjr.4384]

I believe these are the spores Alan gave me a swab of at the mushroom classroom in Denver last Saturday. They are currently on agar. Thank you sir! Mush appreciated! It was an honor to meet Alan. It was on my bucket list! He has a plethora of myco knowledge!

[@nevyen149]

"Landslide Mushrooms of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt" sounds like the morning after a night of heavy drinking and bad ceviche.

[@NateDog94xx]

Amazing video, very well put together. Love the collaboration with Allen. We need more of this content!

[@Vanbooskie]

This has made its way into my top 3 favorite videos of Crime Pays

[@scottclay4253]

Your depth of knowledge and understanding blows me away every time I watch your content. Einstein said “I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious.” Your level of curiosity is pure genius. Thank you for inspiring curiosity in all of us lucky enough to discover the shit you put out. Sorry, I couldn’t resist a little “Santore lingo” there. Love you, Brother!

[@justmejo9008]

Right ❤

[@helenpatterson3858]

Barring the human trash, I feel like I've been taken on a tour through Fairyland. Thank you for sharing this with those of us who will never have such an opportunity. Just beautiful.

[@evilsharkey8954]

The intro drone shot killed me! “Toxicodendron radicans” followed by “La Prednisona”😂

[@katiekane5247]

Love the production Joey, you had me laughing in the intro. Thanks for chapping your ass for our amusement. Damn if that Cuphea doesn't look just like the one I bought 2 years ago & have been propagating for the hummers. Some expensive 4" but I've made several from it.

[@calnative4904]

Before the intro was over I was laughing out loud

[@davetmo42]

ill never remember all the info you give but you crack me up and love it thank you

[@The_Crucible714]

I appreciate these vids because I always come away with one or two new little kernels of knowledge! 🧠😎

[@EnglishDave6767]

Ahhhhhh yeah!! Love it when you team up with Alan. Cheers, from the Southern Oregon Coast. ❤️🍄🙏

[@timmyodaley1411]

God bless you Tony

[@tonystewart7624]

Thanks guys! Those are beautiful little mushrooms.

[@The_Crucible714]

Mmm, and so tasty too!

[@Sl3xx]

I have been looking for good measurement tools to assess people's reasons/motivations for using psychedelics but have not had any luck finding validated or reliable measures... does anyone have suggestions or leads? I can't wait to try any of them.

[@amandabrewster8308]

Psilocybin containing mushrooms saved my life. They drastically reduced my benzodiazepine withdrawal allowing me to quit illicit pill addiction after three years of heavy daily use before it would had become medically dangerous to quit.

[@KenvyNguyen]

@free man One of the most peaceful experience I've ever had..I really need to get my hands on some DMT

[@Neto37375]

@free man I've always wanted to trip but am so scared it might end up bad.. I've heard a story of how a trip went bad so am so terrified of having one..

[@Sl3xx]

@Jeffrey Hart pls how do I find him? Is it on IG?

[@Bryanclouds]

@@Neto37375 There are breathing exercises and meditation techniques you can do before taking psychedelics. Set and Settings are so important meaning your MINDSET and setting where you'll be tripping. The more comfortable and relaxed you are prior the smoother and insightful the experience Will be..

[@snigwithasword1284]

Oh the envy, watching you pick thru that gorgeous claustrophobic ravine.

[@corygetz8484]

I love your posts. You have reignited an old interest in botany.

[@corygetz8484]

It's Alan's fault as well.

[@thedudegrowsfood284]

this is a banger episode. nice.

[@alexkarasoulos]

FUCK YEAH, I have been waiting for a another mushroom video for a while now. MX truly is the holy grail on top of that, keep up the great work tony!

[@stevee.7419]

As always, great work, gentlemen. Thank you for another great presentation!

[@BrainboxOfficial_1]

Look up 👆 to the handle. He ships all kinds of psycheds. 🍄 💊 🍫 🔌......

[@boscorner]

Really appreciated the "psilocybe did not evolve for us" bit!!!

[@guynamedkyle]

Mexico, botany, mycology, Joey AND Alan?!!

[@PsychiCorey]

Man I'm glad this guy gets the views deserved. This passion is infectious. I once had a beautiful dream vision of people like flowers and pollinating each other. Real special Vision.

[@salmansadeq1167]

Here's an animated version of your dream. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnzdenWHqNWSiqM

[@ashtonmurphy6701]

My 2 favorite outdoor teacher's I wish I had. Someone should make a KZbin channel for Allen.

[@Jerryberger9235]

Psychedelic’s definitely have potential to deal with mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, I would like to try them again but it’s just so hard to source here

[@georgewilliams1062]

Psychedelics are the reason why i didn’t take my life when i was at my end. I was stripped of my ego and saw the beauty of life and interconnectivity and even though i still battle anxiety and depression, I’m doing better everyday and will never think in such a self destructive way again.

[@zoeywinston6826]

LSD and mushrooms completely changed my whole outlook on life. I became a better version of myself This experience gave me a lot of confidence about my self and my body. A bunch of bad thought / behavior patterns were broken. One of these was pretty bad OCD that made me wash my hands a lot. It gave me a lot of hope that things will be fine, this is the one thing that I heard throughout the trip: Everything is alright. The main reason for the trip was my severe depression and it definitely helped me (although it's not gone). Before all I could do was lay in bed. Now I am trying to rebuild my life one step at a time which wasn't possible before."

[@sarahh321]

[_James_tray] Got psychs

[@Jerryberger9235]

@@sarahh321 Where to search?? Is it IG?

[@sarahh321]

@@Jerryberger9235 Yes

[@andginisin]

nice to see some rainy wet habitat on the channel :) I’m excited to see what more you have in store for us. Thanks for what you do

[@notquiteultralight1701]

Very well done sir!! My botany professor in college was the shit! The class was college of the desert in palm desert, ca. He was tall as fuck and ruled his class with an iron fist in an empathetic way. Don’t know how else to describe him. Tough as nails but always willing help out when you were stuck. Not quite a gentle giant or a teddy bear but supportive as hell. I really enjoyed it! He took us on a 3 day trip to the Grand Canyon where we camped and hiked down to the last plateau before phantom ranch and then back up. The trip was a 3 day education on every single plant ftom the top down to the bottom. We did the hike and learning part of the day and then he took us to the store where he said to “get what we need” to hang out in the campsite for about 4 hrs and then we would go to dinner. Luckily we had a 21 yo with us. Before he dropped us off at the campsite he told us sternly that if there is news from the campsite we would leave that night snd we would fail this part of the class. Needless to say we put a good buzz on and behaved. Toward the end of the class he pulled me into his office and told me that either i knock off the antics in class or i was gonna fail. I ended up kickin ass and doing really well. Great great guy!!! Never forget him!! What a cool channel you’ve got here sir!! Thank you for taking us along Professor!

[@Heavilymoderated]

Love the fungi focused videos.

[@Alex-fw6ur]

*Anytime I try to hike* “I grabbed something to break my fall….hopefully it wasn’t the poison ivy”.

[@boscorner]

Alan is such a genuine kind person. Met him twice

[@longtermsurvival8279]

This educational show made me more passionate about nature! Amazing documentation of nature! Priceless

[@marcusriley1311]

Every time I see one of your videos, I'm blown away. Keep up the good work

[@haziz8206]

Magnifique ,beau ,instructif ,interressant ,belle video .

[@jessejuliano8056]

my favourite ever video of yours mate. Love it. Something extra special about pschedelic fungi. They always look so beautiful and grow in such magical places.

[@AbeYoung]

You crushed it. One of my favorite episodes yet. 😘 Thanks for your efforts

[@prestonheck]

Sending botanical love from the woods of Morristown Tennessee. 🌱

[@weregoat529]

Love how much your production values have improved since getting that drone :)

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Alan rules. It's such a treat to get a video with Alan and some brilliant fungi. I can't help it. I just wanna eat em

[@jasonmartinez9545]

would be very interesting to see you guys sample these for another video

[@The_Crucible714]

Tbh, Tony seems like he’s trippin’ baIIs (to one degree or another) in every video. 😂

[@AndNoOneDriving]

I love how u can tell that u had a rly good time bc of the especially polite and nice extended outro compared to the more abrupt suddenly-it’s-over gfy-bye of most of ur other videos lol

[@ipwndcancer]

As a fruiting amateur mycologist I always appreciate the mushy vids with Alan

[@ryanrhodes5819]

The opening credits are fantastic

[@leannaerickson9745]

Another great one! Thanks for hiking down this ravine so I don't have to.

[@rosstopher7181]

Yes! Awesome. More videos with alan!

[@selurxelpirt]

Love the vid thumbnail! You and Alan are my favorite superhero duo!!!

[@frankmacleod2565]

Thanks Tony!

[@deannoman]

I goddamn LOVE the mushroom content! What a mystery to me but Alan is such a fountain of knowledge!

[@jopmens6960]

So happy that you are doing more stuff together with Alan! ❤ I love these fungi and am interested in working with em / studying them, have spores of many of these exotics. Btw afaik the blue compounds are oligomers and the polymers are more muddy dark/black, but.. Semantics.

[@blackxxxstar]

I’m gotta watch this whole channel now

[@guynamedkyle]

I'm always hyped for ur Mexico vids!!!

[@TC-xh5wp]

His guest is in straight up research mode.

[@barbarabroeske1061]

Yo, get hip to Alan Rockefeller. He's the man

[@klawdyarv847]

You should visit El Cielo biosphere reservation in Tamaulipas, such a beautiful ecosystem!

[@MrAtrophy]

I appreciate you falling and eating shit for us. I always learn something and you always show us something beautiful, thank you.

[@musicalADD_theband]

P. zapotecorum!! I recognized them from the thumbnail picture! I grew up in Guadalajara, I was too young to know yet, lol

[@nml5536]

Great content... Love you're bring in mycology!

[@benjaminlaster3773]

Once again, you made my day. Superb content!

[@redonk1740]

I really appreciate you calling out some of the pseudo-scientific bs that plagues the psychedelic community.

[@kangarookristofer]

Loved the commentary

[@art0of0wargunnarson91]

I enjoyed this thanks for the work 🤌

[@coconutfleetsleeper5717]

This is great! Allan is so likeable, he has all balls in his field of play if you know what i mean;)

[@hthorne4364]

THANKS FOR THIS COMFY VIDEO

[@justinsnyder6256]

The way you use the scientific names is so fun.

[@Shadowfax2121]

Wonderful mealtime video after a day of gardening. Thanks buddy, you do some good work.

[@douglasboyle6544]

Those opening credits had me rolling.

[@jx0uax0xn]

Maybe they didn't evolve for us but the fact they exist has helped me!

[@noelbreitenbach8673]

Love when you have AR on!

[@BrainboxOfficial_1]

Look up 👆 to the handle. He ships all kinds of psycheds.🍄💊🍫🔌......

[@gardengatesopen]

First Rate Intro & funny too! Love the shroom episodes!!

[@timm5358]

Wish I was there to take some prints, beautiful

[@polcie4147]

Banger video banger mushrooms and plants ly keep it up tony

[@flyemhard]

looks like a great adventure ...too much for me tho, I'm a great grandpa...to old to climb much. y'all have fun

[@isaiahpetersen]

Fascinating! Hope you had a nice "trip"! 🍄

[@johntowner1893]

Psilocin gives slugs consciousness - and they freak out and stop eating the mushrooms. Lol.

[@johnnyvodker3720]

The mushrooms didn't evolve for us, we evolved for the mushrooms

[@timwhiting6721]

Mushrooms are children of the sun like us. The mycelium is constantly researching , destroying , eating , ingesting , and most importantly remembering

[@hinthintadamo]

One of the best ever. So happy to be alive at the same time as Crime Pays.

[@alanomofo]

👍YES I've been waiting for a video from Alan ever since he mentioned this species and the landslide aspect of their life cycle . Didn't know ide get a video from my favorite dirty mouthed youtuber with it 😃

[@tylerchamploo1518]

Fantastic video as always Joe!

[@fungdark8270]

So cool to hear someone saying polymerization instead of oxidation 😊

[@deborahprovo3779]

what fun guys ! ! !

[@daveycakes8060]

Amazing video!

[@Daniel-xu9ut]

Nice looking dirt

[@aMEWzed]

That was awesome & interesting. Quite the crazy adventure! Hope you did not get too itchy & got the oils cleaned off quick.

[@kylejf2108]

I love you guys. Rock on 🤘

[@susiefairfield7218]

Totally diggin yaz vids from southwest flowrahduh💓👌🏿

[@64Pete]

If I didn't fuckin' learn something every time I come here, I wouldn't fuckin' come here. Cheers brother, always an education. Stay sketchy, gfy.😇✌🇦🇺

[@The_Crucible714]

It’s the big-brain, erudite Latin names mixed in with potty-mouth descriptions for me.

[@DRChupacabrah]

This was really cool!

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Brilliant episode, Tone!

[@LexAckson]

Can't wait for the next art book of mushroom drawings ;)

[@elenap15227]

La* Placa de Cocos. Saludos para el compa Prednisona 👋

[@EatShee-I-it]

Awesome intro! Whatever you’re doing, keep on doing it! Thanks

[@EatShee-I-it]

@OSCAR_SPORES ON INSTAGRAM SELLS PSYCHEDS. STUFFS fuck you and your bullshit. I’m so sick and tired of seeing you assholes