Welcome to the world of Psilocybe tampanensis, also known as the "Florida Man" mushroom. This psychedelic mushroom is most commonly found, grown, or consumed in its sclerotia form, colloquially known as " magic truffles" or "philosopher's stones" and has a repertoire of unique traits that make it a favorite amongst mycologists. In this heavily-visited article, we'll cover literally everything you need to know about Psilocybe Tampanensis, including cultivation techniques for people in legal jurisdictions. For people in the US, cultivation is 100% illegal and should not be attempted, and this post is for educational value only. Our spores should only be used for microscopy & taxonomy, and not cultivation.
Background Of The Psilocybe Tampanensis
History of the 'Florida Man' Mushroom
The captivating history and origin of Psilocybe Tampanensis, fondly referred to as the "Florida Man" Mushroom, can be traced back to its serendipitous discovery in a sandy meadow of Tampa, Florida. Its origin story, like the mushroom itself, is quite peculiar. During a moment of boredom at a mycology event & staff meeting, an antsy mycologist decided to leave work and venture off in search of mushrooms. In a stroke of luck, he stumbled upon a distinctive specimen with a remarkably tall & thick stem. What really caught his attention, however, was the intriguing phenomenon of blue bruising observed on the stem—a telltale sign of the presence of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound responsible for the mushroom's mind-altering effects. He had found Psilocybe Tampanensis for the first time ever! The mushroom was cloned, distributed, and the rest is history!
The name "Florida Man" Mushroom was playfully bestowed upon this newfound species, drawing a humorous comparison to the notorious "Florida Man" meme that chronicles bizarre and peculiar happenings in the state. Think "Drunk Florida Man Jumps into Gator Enclosure at The Zoo and Steals 13 Eggs". You get the idea. Much like its meme counterpart, the "Florida Man" Mushroom proved to be an enigmatic and challenging entity to control and cultivate.
Fast forward to 2023, and the sclerotia (stones / magic truffles) of Psilocybe Tampanensis is used as a psychedelic medicine in much of the world. If you'd been to Amsterdam and tried "Magic Truffles", chances are that you've consumed Psilocybe Tampanesis! As mentioned, Psilocybe Tampanensis is difficult to grow to completion. So, cultivators terminate the process when the mushroom forms an underground mass of mycelium called a "sclerotia". A "sclerotia" is a hard mass of dormant mycelium that is able to survive against harsh environmental conditions. When conditions are good again, the sclerotia can begin to create more mycelium and attempt to fruit a full mushroom for spore release and reproduction.
However, reaching the final "mushroom stage" of the growth cycle is very tricky and laborious, so most people stop at sclerotia formation.
Identification & Physical Traits
Psilocybe tampanensis possesses distinct physical traits that contribute to its unique appearance. The mushroom's cap, typically ranging in color from light brown to a reddish-brown, showcases a convex or bell-shaped structure with a diameter that can vary between 1 to 3 centimeters. You may see some small, white speckles on the cap as well. Its stem, often thick and sturdy, can reach heights of up to 15 centimeters and displays a creamy white hue. The proportions of cap-size to stem-height is interesting, making the mushroom appear as if it is much taller than it really is. Oh yeah, and like all other Psilocybe mushrooms, the 'Florida Man' mushroom will bruise blue when handled or damaged as a result of an enzymatic reaction.
Another notable feature of Psilocybe tampanensis, as mentioned, is the formation of sclerotia, also known as "magic truffles" or "philosopher's stones." These small, dense, and firm structures grow underground and serve as reservoirs of nutrients, allowing the mushroom to survive adverse conditions such as wildfire. Sclerotia often possess a tan-brown to off-white coloration and pale in comparison to the size of the fully developed mushroom.
When it comes to spore production, Psilocybe tampanensis produces purplish-brown spores, and has a very pretty print that only the best cultivators can pull off due to the difficulty of growing fruit-bodies.
Natural Habitat
Psilocybe Tampanensis has only been found in a wild a handful of times, and so its preferred habitat is pretty unknown to science. However, it was originally found in a sandy meadow in 80 degree temps. In 1996, another 'Florida Man' Mushroom was found growing in very similar conditions (sandy meadow in deciduous forest) in Mississippi. Your best chance at finding them in the wild is by going to similar areas in the Southeastern USA.
Why does Psilocybe Tampanensis Form Sclerotia?
Sclerotia is formed, typically, to withstand adverse weather events such as wildfires, harsh temperatures, etc. So, why would the Psilocybe Tampanensis mushroom found in central Florida form sclerotia, but another Psilocybe mushroom in a similar ecosystem like Cuba (P. Cubensis) not? They are just a brief flight away! What weather events occur in Florida that don't occur in Cuba? Not many! The best guess to date is that the 'Florida Man' Mushroom's sclerotia evolved as a protective measure against drought. Remember, this mushroom was discovered growing wildly in a sandy meadow... Sandy soils drain more more quickly than loamy or clay soils, strengthening the idea that sclerotia formation is necessary for this mushroom's survival as a species. While there is no definite proof of this hypothesis, it is the best guess anyone has to date. If nothing else, just know that the sclerotia is formed as a protective measure against extreme or adverse weather events.
Uses & Effects
How to Consume Psilocybe Tampanensis Truffles (Philsophers' Stones)
There are many ways to consume 'Florida Man' mushroom sclerotia, depending on your personal preferences and the desired effects. Some popular methods include:
- Eating fresh truffles (sclerotia) on their own or mixed into a meal.
- Drying and then powdering the truffles for use in teas, pill capsules, or as an addition to other foods. This also allows for long-term storage.
- Brewing Psilocybe tampanensis mushroom tea by boiling dried or fresh truffles in water for 15-20 minutes, then straining the liquid and drinking it.
- Incorporating 'Florida Man' truffles into smoothies or other drinks to mask the taste.
Regardless of how you choose to consume it, it is essential to start with a low dose and proceed with caution, as the effects can be potent and long-lasting. According to Paul Stamets, the sclerotia of P. Tampanensis are moderate-to-high in potency.
Dosing Recommendations
When it comes to dosing 'Florida Man' mushrooms, it is important to start with a low dose and gradually increase as needed. The strength of the mushrooms can vary widely depending on the strain, growing conditions, and other factors, so it is always best to err on the side of caution. For beginners, a small dose of .5 to 1.5 grams of sclerotia is recommended, while more experienced users may choose to take three to five grams or more for a stronger experience. It is also important to consider factors such as body weight, tolerance, and individual sensitivity when determining the appropriate dosage. Additionally, it is recommended to have a trusted friend or sitter present during the experience to provide support and assistance if needed.
Also note that P. Tampanensis have a different potency per each individual stone. To get a consistent dose, you can powder all the sclerotia together, mix thoroughly, and divide them up into portions by weight. Each portion will have an average potency of all of the sclerotia combined.
Potency & Psychedelic Effects
The effects of these mushrooms can vary widely depending on the dosage and individual sensitivity. Some potential effects include:
- Visual and auditory hallucinations
- Changes in perception of time and space
- Heightened emotional states
- Increased creativity and introspection
- Enhanced spiritual experiences
- Altered thought patterns and beliefs
- Intense feelings of euphoria or anxiety
- Physical effects such as pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and changes in body temperature.
It is important to note that while some people may find these effects enjoyable and therapeutic, others may experience negative effects such as paranoia, confusion, or panic. It is essential to approach the use of P. Tampanensis mushrooms with caution and to ensure a safe and supportive environment for the experience.
Cultivation Of The P. Tampanensis
Are Tamps Easy To Grow?
While no mushroom is necessarily "easy" to grow, P. Tampanensis is one of the more welcoming for cultivators because there is no need to grow an actual mushroom if you don't want to. While many attempt to grow the sporocarp (fruit body), most cultivators stop at the sclerotia step, eliminating the need to move spawn to bulk substrate or initiate fruiting conditions.
If you are curious about growing the actual mushroom to maturity, you should know that this feat is much more difficult. So difficult, in fact, that we'll only discuss reaching the sclerotia stage from this point on. If you want to know how to grow actual mushrooms and not just sclerotia, consider looking into P. Cubensis strains like Golden Teacher.
What Are the P. Tampanensis Growing Conditions?
The conditions for P. Tampanensis mycelium are similar to those of other strains of P. Cubensis. They must be inoculated into a nutrient rich medium, and kept in a dark & humid place with extremely limited air exchange, few contaminants, and a temperature of about 73 to 80 degrees fahrenheit.
Recommended Inoculation Medium for Spawn
In order to reach the 'Florida Man's' sclerotia stage, we'd recommend inoculating sterile grain, like rye. You may have some success using all-in-one grow bags as well, but the soil-like contents in grow bags can make harvesting your sclerotia (magic truffles) a messy pain in the butt.
Recommended Growing Method for the Florida Man Mushroom (Sclerotia formation)
There are a lot of ways to grow mushrooms. For P. Tampanensis mushrooms, we'd recommend creating agar cultures, inoculating sterilized grain, and then waiting for sclerotia formation. It's useful to know that even in a perfectly constructed, humid environment, the 'Florida Man' mushroom will produce sclerotia. So, even if your goal is a mature mushroom, keep in mind that the sclerotia step will still occur and you have to prepare accordingly. While it sounds simple, there's a bit more to growing the Psilocybe Tampanensis that you should understand before diving in. Let us explain:
Growing Process (11 Steps)
Note: This section is only permitted & intended for those in areas where growing P. Tampanensis mushrooms is legal. Please contact your local government prior to reading this information. All information is for educational purposes ONLY, and should not be performed at home.
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Set your intention: Do you want to grow for consumption (illegal in the USA), microscopy, for spore collection, or something else? Defining your intention will help you optimize your set-up.
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Obtain P. Tampanensis Mushroom Spores or Cultures: You can obtain mushroom spores or a spawn from a variety of sources, including online retailers and specialty gardening stores. Make sure that the spores or spawn are fresh and of high quality with no contamination. At Eden shrooms, contamination should be the least of your issues. Psilocybin-containing spawn is illegal for purchase in the USA & many other places, so you'll likely need to go with spores.
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Choose an inoculation medium: Many begin their process by inoculating agar plates with their syringe to create mycelium, and then move that mycelium to sterilized grain to create spawn. This article has more information on inoculating agar. If you don't want to go the agar route, you can inject spores or liquid culture directly onto sterile grain, or into an all-in-one grow bag. For psilocybe tampanensis mushrooms, however, we'd recommend starting with agar, and moving the mycelium to sterile rye grain in a jar. The agar method makes it easier to detect early contamination, and it allows you to select the healthiest mycelium to transfer. Before you perform that task, however, there is still work to be done.
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Sterilize the Grain: To prevent contamination, it is important to sterilize the grain you picked before adding the mushroom spores or culture. This can be done by putting rye grain into a jar and then using a pressure cooker. Once sterilized, you can prepare your grain jars to be introduced with spores or mycelium culture, depending on if you began with agar or not.
- Introduce the Mycelium or Spores: If you began with agar, you will have some mycelium on the plate that you can move to your jar. Just flame-sterilize a scalpel, remove some tissue from the plate, and place it onto the grain and close the lid or entry port. If you didn't use agar, simply inject the full syringe at different angles into the sterile grain. Make sure to be extremely clean during this process. Now, your mycelium or spores have met their nutrient-rich fuel source, and will begin to expand.
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Provide the right environment for colonization: At this point, you need to let your mycelium colonize the grain, which requires specific conditions. These mushrooms require a humid, dark environment with consistent temperature and low air circulation to grow. Many have recommended 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit as a relatively safe range for your mycelium to colonize the grain. Keep extremely clean, and be patient.
- Shake & Break: Once your mycelium has colonized about 20% of the grain, you should shake up the jar to increase exposure points between mycelium & grain. Then, wait for about 90% to be colonized.
- Wait for sclerotia formation: At this point, all you have to do is be patient. The sclerotia should start forming in a few weeks, and will continue to grow for 3-4 months. Seriously, just keep the grain spawn in a dark, humid place, and wait wait wait!
- Harvest the sclerotia: Congrats! At this point, you should have some yellow-brown to off-white sclerotia (magic truffles) in your jar. While it can be harder to detect sclerotia that formed within the grain, you can see some that have formed near the glass walls of your jar. Once you see them, you can assume they're ready for harvest. Simply remove them from the grain and pick sclerotia out with your hands, or use a sieve to filter the grain out while collecting sclerotia. If, for whatever reason, you moved your spawn to bulk substrate, you'll know that sclerotia have formed when the surface of the substrate is raised up in a few different areas.
Remember, this information is NOT supposed to be replicated in the United States, or any country where Psilocybin is federally illegal. Rather, it is to educate those who are curious about the growing processes of Psilocybe Tampanensis Mushrooms and may consider studying them further.
Acquiring P. Tampanensis Spores
Where to Buy P. Tampanesis Spores
EdenShrooms is the best place to buy spores, due to their high-quality and contamination-free syringes, affordable prices, user-friendly website, fast and discreet shipping, and exceptional customer service. However, our P. Tampenensis spores have not yet hit the market. You can expect to see them in a few months! Remember, our spores are sold for microscopy only, and you should not mistake this guide as an invitation to grow illegal mushrooms.
Looking for spores in person? Check out our magic mushroom store locator.
How to Collect P. Tampanensis Spores
If you somehow find a wild 'Florida Man' mushroom or successfully grow your own, you can collect spores pretty easily. A great way to do that is by taking a spore print, and saving for future use.
Conclusion & Legal Status
In conclusion, P. Tampanensis mushrooms are a popular species of psychedelic fungi that are known for their large stems, magic truffles, and potent effects. While their legal status varies depending on location, they are generally illegal in many parts of the world. It is important to always check local laws and regulations before growing, possessing, or consuming these mushrooms. However, for those in areas where they are legal, P. Tampanensis mushrooms can be a fascinating and rewarding addition to any mycology hobbyist's collection. With proper growing techniques and responsible consumption, they can provide a unique and enlightening experience.
Disclaimer: We offer Psilocybin mushroom spores intended for microscopy and taxonomy purposes only. Images & Text provided are for informational and educational reference only and originate from cultivators and labs outside of the USA. Buying magic mushroom spores is legal in the United States. However, cultivation of magic mushrooms, which includes all psilocybin and psilocin containing mushroom species, is illegal in many countries, including the United States. Please check your local regulations to ensure that you are following the law properly.