Liberty cap mushrooms. Kirlian photograph of liberty cap mushrooms (Psilocybe semilanceata) showing the electromagnetic discharge around their edges. This luminous discharge is the result of high-energy interactions between the mushrooms and a powerful applied electric field. Liberty caps (also known as "magic mushrooms") are commonly found in clusters in late summer and autumn, and are sometimes collected for their hallucinogenic properties. Preparation of the mushrooms by either drying them, brewing them into a drink, or incorporating them in food is illegal. Consumption leads to hallucinations, altered perceptions of time, and mild euphoria.