“Scientists have identified a novel hallucinogenic compound in the Lanmaoa asiatica mushroom, which causes users to see tiny human figures, despite lacking known psychedelic chemicals, according to research led by the University of Utah.”
Native to the northern Philippines and Yunnan, China, the Lanmaoa asiatica mushroom is notorious for inducing “Lilliputian hallucinations”—vivid visions of miniature people. However, genomic studies from the University of Utah have revealed a chemical anomaly: the fungus contains neither psilocybin nor ibotenic acid, the two primary psychoactive compounds typically found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, according to ScienceAlert.
A Genetic Search for Missing Psychedelics
To find the source of these visions, researchers published a 2026 study in Mycologia after sequencing the genomes of 53 Lanmaoa specimens across 17 recognized species. They found nothing. No genetic pathways for classic psychedelics appeared in the data.
“Biosynthetic gene mining of the L. asiatica genome found no close hits with any genes known in the production of mushroom psychoactive compounds,” the study noted. The findings, also covered by Live Science, suggest the mushroom operates on a chemical frequency science has not yet tuned into.
The Mystery of the Unidentified Metabolite
Colin Domnauer, the doctoral student leading the research team, believes the answer lies in a previously unknown metabolite. “This supports our hypothesis of the presence of a novel unidentified metabolite responsible for the unique hallucinogenic properties of L. asiatica,” the study stated.
These are not fleeting glimpses. Live Science reported that the hallucinations—described as “three-dimensionally-rendered, highly-detailed figures”—typically emerge 12 to 24 hours after ingestion and can persist for several days.
Public Safety and the Risk of Misidentification
Despite the strange side effects, the mushroom is a staple in some regions. In Yunnan, local communities often consume the fungus undercooked. “Everyone knows that this mushroom has this property and can make you see little people, but they’ll continue to eat it anyway,” Domnauer told Live Science.
The danger, however, is taxonomic. Lanmaoa species are traded commercially and are frequently mistaken for toxic lookalikes. The New York Post cited experts warning that this confusion creates “serious concerns for public food safety and medical practitioners.”
Expanding the Lanmaoa Family Tree
The University of Utah’s work also revised the mushroom’s classification, identifying two new species: Lanmaoa fallax and Lanmaoa carbonilivor. The researchers suggested other existing specimens may also require reclassification.
Because these fungi are popular global trade products, the study warned that “frequent misidentification of wild edible mushrooms with potentially poisonous lookalikes is a both well-documented and serious concern for public food safety and medical practitioners.” This need for a more rigorous classification system was echoed in reporting by AOL and The New York Post.
A New Frontier in Bioactive Chemistry
The discovery may lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery. ScienceAlert noted that the genomic data could support future research into the phylogenetic distribution of the genus, which may hold “potentially important bioactive secondary chemistry.”
Now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah, Domnauer continues to hunt for the compound’s mechanism. “This study establishes a comprehensive genomic foundation for Lanmaoa systematics, enabling future research to more robustly explore the evolutionary history and secondary chemistry of the genus,” he stated.
The medical challenge remains steep. Without isolating the active compound, treating these specific hallucinations is nearly impossible. “Even to this day science doesn’t understand what’s going on in the brain to cause this, or how to treat it,” Domnauer told Live Science. He believes the scientific community may be “on the verge of finding a whole new category of psychoactive chemistry.”
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