Meaning and usage of the word shroom in English

The word "shroom" is a slang term commonly used to refer to mushrooms, particularly those that are hallucinogenic. Its origins can be traced back to the 1960s when the hippie subculture emerged in the United States. At the time, hallucinogenic mushrooms like Psilocybe cubensis, also known as "magic mushrooms," became popular in the underground counterculture scene. As these mushrooms resemble umbrellas or parasols when fully grown, people began calling them "shrooms." The term gained widespread usage in popular culture during the psychedelic era, with musicians like Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead referencing shrooms in their songs. Today, "shroom" is commonly used in everyday language to refer to mushrooms in a casual or informal setting, both for the common type of mushrooms as well as the hallucinogenic variety.