The world of psilocybin mushrooms could grow with every flush. There are magic mushroom species and strains born from isolating mutations of them. What starts as one shroom could become the latest discovery. The possibilities feel endless. One prominent mutation is the Enigma mushroom, which grows stark white with gills. The Melmac mushroom is another.
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Mutations are isolated from flushes of traditional psilocybin strains like Golden Teachers or Penis Envy (PE). A mycologist may notice an uncommon morphology poking out of a flush of True Albino Teachers, isolate it, and the world is gifted Jack Frost mushrooms. That is also how Melmac mushrooms came to be.
Various governments, from the state to local, have legalized or decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms. The compound remains illegal at the federal level. Consult local laws before engaging with Melmac or any other psilocybin strain.
History of Penis Envy and Melmac mushrooms
Melmac mushrooms were isolated from Penis Envy (PE), a manmade strain created in a lab by mushroom enthusiasts. The first-known proof of Penis Envy is believed to be featured in the rarest psilocybin mushroom tome Cubensis Aquarium Gardening by Richard Gutierrez aka Rich Gee. It is virtually impossible to leaf through this book, let alone own it.
Psychedelic journalist Hamilton Morris tracked it down because the first photo of PE mushrooms is said to be featured on its pages. After searching for 15 years, Morris was also able to score an interview with Rich Gee himself. The mycologist is a ghost. He is not online and does not live publicly.
Many believe that Terrance McKenna found PE, but that may not be true. In the interview, Gee shares that he was given the first iteration of Penis Envy by a friend who found it in a bag of dried psychedelic mushrooms from California. The legend goes that those shrooms came from Terrance McKenna, but Gee states that he never met the icon.
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Gee had a decade of lab science under his belt and could reconstitute any mushroom and make it grow. That is what he eventually did with PE, stabilizing the shrooms over the following decade. These Amazonian mushrooms were renamed Penis Envy in 1987 to ‘88, according to Gee.
This history lesson delves into Shroomery forum drama centering a potential villain named Mushroom John. All of that aside, Penis Envy was stabilized and created in a lab, according to most sources. Those seeking that story should listen to the full interview.
Homestead, a publisher that sold at-home psilocybin grow kits, isolated the first Melmac from PE. This likely happened in the late 1970s or 80s. It is said that Melmac, named after the 1980s character Alf’s home planet, was selectively bred to stabilize a unique PE presentation. Because of its creator and parentage, Melmac is sometimes called Homestead PE.
How to spot a Melmac mushroom
The Melmac mushroom has a unique morphology, with a bumpy, gnarled stipe (aka the stem) that can sometimes appear blue. These bumps are more pronounced or very subtle depending on the flush, environment, and original spore print used to grow them.
Its golden caps pull away from the stipe more than Penis Envy which has a cap with edges that stays close to the stem. Melmac caps curve upwards like flying saucers. They sometimes appear wavy, but caps flipping up is the clearest morphological indication that the fungi are Melmac.
There are many kinds of Melmac now. The species can develop leucistic flushes, meaning they grow all white with bluish hues instead of gold-capped. A mycologist known as DC also isolated their version, which can be found online. This variety features thicker, stark white stems. Another strain, referred to as a revert, is believed to be isolated by Edible Earth Fungi.
There are lots of Melmac varieties, much like there are countless versions of Penis Envy. While they may present slightly different morphologies, the effects will likely be similar.
Melmac mushroom effects
Many mushroom enthusiasts believe strains have little to do with the trip. While the name Melmac implies otherworldly effects, they may remain in the same galaxy as all other Psilocybe cubensis varieties.
Psilocybin mushrooms are said to make a person feel euphoric, excited, and in awe of their surrounding world. On the flip side, it could make a person paranoia, anxiety, panic, overwhelm, or nausea.
Having a trip sitter, someone sober to look after those indulging in psychedelics, can help offset bad vibes. Be aware of how pharmaceuticals may interact with psilocybin. Also, come hydrated. A nourished body and mind could make for a clear psychedelic experience no matter what magic mushroom strain is consumed.
Tips for growing Melmac mushrooms
Those who have dialed in their grow spaces claim that cultivating mushrooms is easy whether they are magic or not. This is also true for Melmacs, which develop large fruits under the right circumstances.
The shrooms can grow from a syringe or spore print. Once fruiting, they thrive in a manure substrate and thrive in a high-humidity container that stays around 70-80℉.
Shroom forum fodder suggests waiting until right as the veil tears and the mushrooms begin to get squishier to harvest. One mushroom enthusiast shared that PE strains tend to suck lots of moisture from the substrate. Air Exchange (FAE) methods in the final stages allow the fruiting bodies to let off moisture, theoretically leading to healthier fruits.
Growing mushrooms may be easy, but it is not always legal. Check local laws before seeking out spores or starting to cultivate psilocybin.
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Storied mushroom has unique history
The world of psilocybin mushrooms is vast, with varying species and mutants making waves with psychonauts worldwide. Countless iterations exist in the Penis Envy family alone, not to mention the Melmac lineage.
While the history is passed down verbally with differing takes, most can agree on spotting this PE isolation. Melmac is not the most widely talked about shrooms on the scene, but it has the respect of the culture. In psychedelia, that says a lot.
