Penis Envy mushrooms have a catchy name, so you’re not the only one. There are no Freudian side-effects in the psychedelic name “psychédélique,” and the fungi’s effects are renowned for both their power and uniqueness and their history is intertwined with some of the most prominent individuals in the psychedelic culture.
Let’s begin with the basics. The lasting tale of penis envy shrooms is that they were first found by psychonauts Terrence and Dennis McKenna in the Amazonian Rain Forest. On tour across Columbia, the brothers discovered a gigantic growth of fungus that they had never seen before, with long and thick stems and small caps.
These mushrooms were, in fact, p. cubensis, the psilocybin-containing mushrooms that had been the focus of their trip after tasting them with local guides. It was legal to hold the spore samples since they didn’t contain any psilocybin, so the brothers started sharing them with their network of like-minded scientists.
Despite many rumors, the origins of Penis Envy’s cultivation and dissemination remained shrouded in mystery for decades. Psychedelic legend has it that Steven Pollock, an eccentric mycologist who died mysteriously, was the cause of their seclusion for years. Richard Gutierrez, who published his psilocybin study under the pseudonym Rich Gee, was tracked back to Hamilton Morris, a chemist and drug researcher.
Penis Envy spores were sent from the McKennas to Gutierrez, who was responsible for their extended cultivation and genetic refinement, according to Morris in a 2021 edition of his podcast. According to Gutierrez, modern-day individuals resemble their Amazonian predecessors just somewhat because their spore production was too low for them to spread.
A George Constanza-like change diminishes the phallic proportions of Penis Envy mushrooms before they reach psychonauts, though. But it doesn’t imply they’re any less powerful because they’ve shrunk. The Penis Envy strain of P. cubensis is one of the strongest forms of psychedelic mushrooms, according to anecdotal and amateur studies, with some estimates putting them 30 to 50 percent stronger than other P. cubensis strains.
Penis Envy mushrooms have a greater concentration of psilocin and other psychedelic ingredients than most p. cubensis. Hence this is why they’re more popular. The chemicals psilocybin and psilocin cause mushrooms’ hallucinogenic effects. By binding to the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain and producing an intoxicating “high,” the psilocybin compound breaks down when taken orally.
The Popular Mushroom
Penis Envy mushrooms, with their intense hallucinatory qualities and euphoric effects, are preferred by experienced psychonauts for their subjective psychedelic experiences. Even more so, the potency of Penis Envy mushrooms allows for a reflective or emotionally illuminating experience for certain users. Penis Envy mushrooms are one of the most popular strains of p. cubensis. Therefore it comes as no surprise.
They’re also one of the most difficult to produce. The velum, a key component of fungal anatomy for dispersing spores, is absent from the mushrooms. It takes many specimens to produce enough spores to fill a syringe. Penis Envy mushrooms take 25 percent longer to colonize than other p. cubensis and are more susceptible to contamination due to genetic splicing and technological manipulation.
No matter how bright or dark they seem, Penis Envy mushrooms are a dangerous variety. Inexperienced or ambitious travelers might use them as a source of inspiration. They stand out from the crowd not just because of their unusual name but also because of their potent effects and connections to some of the most dramatic incidents in psychedelic history.