Psilocybe Pronunciation

Hi Fungal Friends,

In the field of mycology, there are multiple acceptable ways of pronouncing latin binomials of mushroom species. I am commonly asked this question, especially in the pronunciation of Psilocybe. 

Two of the greatest mycologists of all time, Dr. Alexander Smith and Dr. Rolf Singer recite the same latin binomials of more than a hundred species. Here are side by side pronunciations by an American (Smith) vs a European (Singer) expert.

You can hear one of my mentors, Alex Smith, pronounce Psilocybe very differently than Rolf Singer. Smith prefers ‘psi-lah-cee-bee’ whereas Singer prefers ‘psi-lo-cee-bee’. Both published extensively on the genus Psilocybe, and named new species, sometimes together! 

Check out more pronunciations HERE. (In the left column under “P” hear Alexander Smith say “Psilocybe baeocystis” at 2:35. In the right column under “P” hear Rolf Singer say “Psilocybe baeocystis” at 1:56) 

Photo of Psilocybe baeocystis by Paul Stamets