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Why does this mushroom make people see tiny people?

The same mushroom species can make people in China and the Philippines see tiny people. It lacks known psychedelic genes; the molecule is still unknown.

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Sources

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  1. Domnauer C, Dentinger BTM. "Phylogenomic systematics of Lanmaoa (Boletaceae) reveals cryptic diversity, resolves global evolutionary relationships, and suggests a novel psychoactive lineage." Mycologia 118(4):732-742, 2026
  2. University of Utah. "Scientists identify mushroom behind 'tiny people' hallucinations" (Q&A with Colin Domnauer), 2026-08-06
  3. ScienceDaily (University of Utah). "This mysterious mushroom makes people see hundreds of tiny humans," 2026-10-25
  4. Domnauer C. "Experts Explore New Mushroom Which Causes Fairytale-Like Hallucinations." Natural History Museum of Utah, 2025-11-12
  5. Dai R, et al. "Neuropsychiatric symptoms following the consumption of Lanmaoa asiatica, a poisonous mushroom native to Yunnan." Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine 31(6):299-303, 2024
  6. Dai R, et al. "Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis Using UPLC-MS/MS Reveals Metabolic Changes Associated With Lanmaoa asiatica Poisoning." Food Science & Nutrition 13(7):e70583, 2025
  7. Li H, et al. "Mushroom Poisoning Outbreaks - China, 2021." China CDC Weekly 4(3):35-40, 2022
  8. Blom JD. "Leroy's elusive little people: A systematic review on lilliputian hallucinations." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 125:627-636, 2021
  9. ffytche DH, et al. "The anatomy of conscious vision: an fMRI study of visual hallucinations." Nature Neuroscience 1(8):738-742, 1998
  10. NHS. "Charles Bonnet syndrome," reviewed 2026-06-17
  11. Reay M. "'Mushroom madness' in the New Guinea Highlands." Oceania 31(2):137-139, 1960
  12. Heim R, Wasson RG. "The 'Mushroom Madness' of the Kuma." Botanical Museum Leaflets, Harvard University 21(1):1-36, 1965
  13. Arora D. "Xiao Ren Ren: The 'Little People' of Yunnan." Economic Botany 62(3):540-544, 2008
  14. Guan L, Kuang P. "The Use of Psychopharmacological Agents in China: Historical and Current Perspectives." International Journal of Mental Health 20(1):4-11, 1991
  15. Wang Y, et al. "Pulvinic Acid Derivative Pigments in Lanmaoa asiatica and L. macrocarpa." Chemistry & Biodiversity 21(5):e202301996, 2024
  16. Lenz C, et al. "Injury-Triggered Blueing Reactions of Psilocybe 'Magic' Mushrooms." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 59(4):1450-1454, 2020
  17. Wu G, et al. "Four new genera of the fungal family Boletaceae." Fungal Diversity 81:1-24, 2016 (online 2015)
  18. Nield D. "This Is Awkward: Mushrooms That Cause 'Tiny Human' Hallucinations Don't Contain Psychedelics." ScienceAlert, 2026-06-30
  19. French K. "Hunting for a New Hallucinogen in the Lilliputian Psychedelic." Nautilus, 2026-07-08
  20. Dale J. "Colin Domnauer: The Hallucinogen That Isn't There." psychedelics.co.uk, 2026-07-16
  21. Nuwer R. "The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans." BBC Future, 2026-01-22 (University of Utah College of Science repost)
  22. Wikimedia Commons. "File:Lanmaoa asiatica.jpg" (Dai R, et al. 2025, Fig. 1A), CC BY 4.0
  23. Wikipedia. "Lanmaoa asiatica"
  24. Duke Kunshan University. MycoMinds student project: Elucidating Psychoactive Mechanisms of Lanmaoa asiatica
  25. ScienceAlert. "What is Lilliputian hallucination," 2021-12-28
  26. Forte et al. 2025, Charles Bonnet syndrome, Ophthalmic Physiol Opt

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