Penis Envy

Easily the most popular strain of Psilocybe Cubensis in the world yet the origins of this remarkable mushroom strain are shrouded in mystery and controversy.

According to popular belief, the original Penis Envy sample was acquired by Terence McKenna during his expedition to the Colombian Amazon in the early 1970s, accompanied by his brother, Dennis McKenna.

As per Hamilton Morris, a prominent psychedelic journalist and the host of Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia, the initial account suggests that a spore print of the mushroom somehow found its way from McKenna’s possession to another renowned mycologist named Steven Pollock. Pollock purportedly refined the strain into the Penis Envy variety we recognize today. Morris’s coverage of the mushroom, coupled with its distinctively potent psychoactive effects, contributed significantly to its widespread popularity.

The narrative takes a dark turn with Pollock’s untimely demise under mysterious circumstances. He allegedly fell victim to a fatal gunshot wound during a robbery at his San Antonio pharmacy in 1981. Morris, in Harper’s Magazine, reported obtaining a tape recording involving purported police officers linked to Pollock’s murder.

Although two suspects were implicated, supposedly methamphetamine addicts and former customers of Pollock, the charges were eventually dropped, and all evidence in the case vanished under unknown circumstances.

Following Pollock’s death, authorities discovered a substantial cache of 1,753 jars containing psychoactive fungi in his greenhouse, all of which were subsequently destroyed. Strangely, a sample of the Penis Envy strain resurfaced after Pollock’s passing and ended up in the hands of another mycologist named Rich Gee, based in Washington. Gee successfully propagated the mushroom and began distributing its spores to growers across the United States. Today, Penis Envy is readily accessible through numerous spore vendors in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

However, the veracity of this narrative remains uncertain.

A subsequent investigation into Morris’s original reporting, featuring an interview with Rich Gee himself, suggests an alternate path for the Penis Envy spores. Gee purportedly obtained the original sample not from Steven Pollock but from one of the co-authors of his book, How to Identify and Grow Psilocybin Mushrooms, named Jules Stevens. Stevens allegedly acquired the sample from a friend who, in turn, received it from McKenna. Gee then utilized selective breeding methods to enhance the strain’s potency, focusing on specimens exhibiting the strongest blueing reaction, indicative of higher psilocybin content.

Furthermore, Gee attributes the strain’s name to an encounter with a group of strippers in 1977. When the strippers laid eyes on the mushrooms, originally intended to be named “Amazons,” they humorously likened them to “donkey dongs.” Gee reportedly responded by quipping, “do you have penis envy?”

Nevertheless, none of these claims can be substantiated. Despite Gee’s expertise as a mycologist, coupled with his familiarity with the Penis Envy mushroom and other strains, skepticism persists due to some of his other assertions, including claims of possessing telekinetic abilities and the capacity to communicate with animals.

These mushrooms derive their name from their resemblance to a penis, with caps closely attached to the stem, resembling a circumcised phallus. They yield compact fruits that maintain their size well when dried.

While cultivating this strain is straightforward, maintaining its stock can pose challenges, as many caps yield minimal or no spores, and sometimes the spores are infertile.

Periodically, Penis Envy mushrooms may yield a dense flush of albino fruits. If you’re interested in cultivating albino mushrooms, several rounds of isolation on agar can consistently produce albino inoculum.

A particularly onery mycologist who goes by RogerRabbit is fond of saying, “Cubes are cubes, with the exception of PE.”

The original high potency strain and the likely precursor to most modern high potency strains. Penis Envy mushrooms possess considerable potency owing to their elevated psilocybin levels, inducing robust psychedelic encounters characterized by potent visuals and profound self-reflection. It’s crucial to approach the consumption of these mushrooms cautiously, beginning with a conservative dosage and ensuring a comfortable environment. This variety delves deeply into the psyche, guiding individuals on an immersive journey marked by vivid imagery and profound insights.

If you seek a transformative experience in your next trip, Penis Envy promises just that. Its effects often manifest intensely and endure longer compared to other strains, necessitating ample time to fully embrace its potent effects.