Tree of Knowledge? Philosopher’s Stone? It has long been theorized that the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil as described in the Bible if interpreted literally could only have been a psychedelic mushroom. Much of our understanding of religion in the Americas comes from eyewitness written accounts of Spanish priests of the ritual and/or medicinal use of psychoactive mushrooms by Native Americans during the early exploratory period in Meso-America. Now I would like to introduce you to Florida’s most unique and under-appreciated psychedelic mushroom: Psilocybe Tampanensis.Psilocybe Tampanensis is perhaps best known on the drug market by the name of Philosopher’s Stone due to its pebble-like sclerotia which are essentially psychedelic truffles. The mushroom and its sclerotia also has a very unique relationship with Florida frequent Pine fires, bringing to mind the legend of the Phoenix.
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