Down the Rabbit Hole with “White Rabbit” Mushrooms

When we think of “White Rabbit,” many of us are likely to think of Alice In Wonderland and the white rabbit who rushes in from offscreen, “I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye!” then disappears down a rabbit hole. Led by Alice, who out of curiosity chose to follow this strange fellow, we follow right behind … so begins a bizarre journey! The image of the white rabbit is almost archetypal, and many cultivators, in their desire to name their cultivars after something descriptive, also like to reference psychedelic culture.

“Alice in Wonderland” holds a special place in psychedelic lore, so it is not surprising that people to want to acknowledge the cultural importance of the text (and film versions). This very strange book emerged at a time when there was an active curiosity about psychoactive plants, with many Materia Medica describing a world of potent plants and powerful entheogens with reverence for their medicinal potential. There is good reason to believe “Alice In Wonderland” was heavily influenced by the chapter about Amanita muscaria, from “The Seven Sisters of Sleep, Popular History of the Seven Prevailing Narcotics of the World,” written by Mycologist Mordecai Cooke and published in 1860. 

READ: How to Identify Psilocybe Cubensis Look-Alikes

More recently, the white rabbit has been acknowledged in the Jefferson Airplane song “White Rabbit.” In 1969 the band performed the song at Woodstock, the vocalist Grace Slick singing about Alice in Wonderland, alluding to the visions brought forth by Amanita muscaria … “Feed your head.” Echoes of which would emerge first in the book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with the notable bathroom scene, and then as another countercultural trope in the film version of the book in the late 1990s with the psychedelic renaissance well and truly settled into the cultural milieu of the time.

“White Rabbit” acknowledges this potent countercultural imagery. Is it worthy of the name or just another marketing “White Elephant?”

What Is the “White Rabbit” Cultivar

“White Rabbit” is a cultivar of Psilocybe cubensis, a species of Psilocybe that was named and described in 1911 by Franklin Sumner Earle.  The species is considered native to Southeast Asia but was named after the type locality, Cuba, where Earle first collected it. At the time, it was not known that it was an introduced species; hence Psilocybe cubensis, now known to have been introduced to tropical and subtropical locations all around the world via cattle (Bos spp.), had been scientifically described with various names from many locations. 

Psilocybe cubensis is easy to cultivate and has been the topic of numerous cultivation guides from the 70s and 80s, with books containing updated methods still being published. The cultivation and research into breeding Psilocybe cubensis has been a significant citizen science undertaking over the past 50 years — this mycological knowledge has also contributed to the commercial cultivation of gourmet edibles and medicinals. There are now hundreds of cultivars of Psilocybe cubensis to choose from, and given our increasing understanding of the genetics involved in breeding cultivars of cubensis, there are likely many, many more yet to be bred. 

It is worth noting that there is also a lot of skepticism around many of the claims breeders make about their “strains” and their psychedelic effects, with no scientific knowledge to substantiate this. There is a lot to be said about the influence of the marketing process that goes on in the community and the hype that comes along with it, especially given the increased interest in the potential medicinal benefits of psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

Origins of “White Rabbit”

“White Rabbit” is a fairly recent cultivar. Little is known about it or its history – this is a fairly regular occurrence in cultivation history, with the origin of cultivars regularly being shrouded in mystery, probably for good reason! But as the industry approaches legitimization, it seems growers have become more confident to be open about the origins stories around their breeding experiments or accidental creations. While it is interesting to note there is some caution, it is also refreshing to see OG cultivators such as John Workman stepping forward to discuss the process involved in creating Albino Penis Envy.

“White Rabbit” is reported as having been bred by a group of mycology enthusiasts, although according to some, this was a group of mycology students, from Holland who wanted to combine Albino Penis Envy and Moby Dick to breed a cultivar with the desirable features, and effects, of both lineages. This cultivar was originally released via MushMush, in the Netherlands but can now be found through various spore sellers.

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“White Rabbit” is a cross between the two cultivars Albino Penis Envy (APE) and Moby Dick. The cultivar is also notable in that both APE and Moby Dick are also hybrids of other cultivars, resulting in a heavily hybridized line of genetics. APE is a cross between the PF Albino cultivar, a mutation derived from the PF cultivar marketed and sold by Psylocybe Fantaticus (PF), Robert “Billy” McPherson, and Penis Envy (PE) bred by Rich Gee, Richard Gutierrez, a cultivar derived from spores collected by Terrance and Dennis Mckenna during their adventures that led to the “Invisible Landscape,” in the Amazon. Moby Dick is a hybrid between Albino A+, a leucistic mutation of a cultivar bred by the infamous Mr G., a cantankerous Shroomery member who obfuscated the origins of his A+ cultivar – we know little of the actual origin – and Golden Teacher, the origins of which are lost to time.

Keeping Track of Names

Naming is important, as a name provides a way to record provenance and pedigrees of different cultivars, but often history is poorly documented and is not authenticated. The language around naming mushrooms can be nuanced at times.  While the term “strain” is the common terminology, the correct use of the term “White Rabbit” is as a “cultivar” of Psilocybe cubensis. Growing from a spore print does not guarantee the same genetics as the label, and unless you are growing from a liquid culture derived from the original “White Rabbit,” then you are, in reality, working with a whole new “strain.” When growing from spores, there will always be genetic recombination, resulting in a slightly different appearance, the potential for weak, slow “strains”, or fast, potent ones! Because of inbreeding, there will be limited genetics, and knowing the heritage of a cultivar will inform you of what traits to expect, but the resulting mushrooms won’t be 100% the same genetically.

Within a species, in this case, Psilocybe cubensis, we can also begin talking about populations. Breeding is typically the process of combining different varieties of a given species to create a cultivar with desirable characteristics, ideally from different populations, to take advantage of genetic diversity. In a recent publication, fungal geneticist Alistair McTaggart defines populations such as “Golden Teacher,” “Albino,” “Penvy,” or “Blue Magnolia.” McTaggart has demonstrated how many of the currently available cultivars of Psilocybe cubensis can be traced back to a similar lineage.  For example, the genetics of “Golden Teacher” include such cultivars as B+, Ecuador, Blue Meanie, Burma, Cambodia, Huatla, Maui, and Indian Orissa, to name a few. Likewise, the “Albino” population contains cultivars such as A+, Albino A+, Leucistic Golden Teacher, and Mazatapec, but it is worth noting that what is sold as Albino A+ leucistic may actually be something from the “Blue Magnolia” population – a consequence of the mislabelling that sometimes happens with spore sellers. Due to the inbred nature of some of these populations, there is little genetic difference between some of the cultivars listed.

White Rabbit can, therefore, be traced back to three different populations. We can refer to knowledge within the community in some cases, i.e., from documented narratives that go some way to explaining how PF albino and Penis Envy were both derived from the spores bought back from the Amazon by the McKenna brothers.  Moby Dick is a hybrid between “Albino” (specifically the A+ cultivar) and “Golden Teacher” populations. Despite the varied genetics, White Rabbit, at some point, would benefit from being crossed with a suitable wild population to reinvigorate the genetics.

What Does White Rabbit Look Like

As we would expect from the genetic heritage of “White Rabbit,” the mushrooms will be mostly white in color, with traces of yellow pigmentation, due to a reduction in pigmentation. The combination of genes from the Albino Penis Envy lineage has resulted in a leucistic cultivar of cubensis.  The lack of pigmentation in the mushrooms is typically more pronounced when grown in low-light conditions. Still, when grown in ordinary conditions, some brown pigments will develop as they are not a true albino cultivar.

White Rabbit mushrooms are typically short and fat, with large pale caps and thick, dense stems. The caps will be convex to broadly convex, then flat at maturity – The mushrooms can sometimes split at the margins. The color of the cap is typically pale yellowish-white, but as they mature, this changes to white/light yellow. The cap will also have pronounced and persistent remnants of the universal veil; the flesh will be white, bruising bluish green when handled. The stem will be yellowish white, and as with the cap, bruising bluish green where injured. A notable feature of Psilocybe cubensis is the persistent, membranous annulus, the skirt, from the partial veil, and this is no different with White Rabbit, which has a beautiful white annulus that matches the white/light yellow caps. The annulus will become dusted with purple-brown spores at maturity.

How Potent is White Rabbit? 

“White Rabbit” has not yet been submitted for testing in competitions such as the Oakland Hyphae Psilocybin Cup, so we don’t have an official potency range, but anecdotally, this cultivar is meant to be quite potent. This cultivar was likely bred with potency in mind, especially given its genetic heritage, “Albino Penis Envy” and “Moby Dick.” “Albino Penis Envy” came fourth in the 2021 Psilocybin Cup for its high psilocybin levels, and Dr. Greythumb’s APE had Psilocybin at 1.73% Dry Weight. Psilocybin in Albino Penis Envy can range from 1.13% to 1.55% dry weight. Many regard White Rabbit as one of the most potent Psilocybe cubensis cultivars available.

So, here is a question: how do we define potency? Competition results can give us a ballpark figure of what to expect from a cultivar when grown under the correct conditions. Still, it is worth remembering that recombinant genetics results in variations in characteristics.  Be cautious about marketing; some characteristics may not come true to their genetic lineage.

READ: Blue Meanies Mushrooms: A Guide to the Potent Panaeolus cyanescens

The potency of any given cultivar of Psilocybe cubensis is a consequence of how well-grown the mushrooms are; the psilocybin levels of any mushroom (regardless of how “potent” it is supposed to be) will vary depending on how it’s grown. Potency is a reflection of a number of factors, including the genetics responsible for the physiology of the mushroom. We are better asking about how well it grows in a given substrate, competes against contamination, and how well the mushroom is capable of nutrient uptake, particularly tyramine as the basis of the biochemical pathway to Psilocybin and psilocin.

As happens alongside “strain” marketing, there is a narrative about the mushroom’s effects. In the case of “White Rabbit,” the marketing makes a point of associating the name with the effects, i.e., claiming that after having consumed the mushrooms, you are going to want to dive deeper down the “rabbit hole in search of inner awareness.”  “White Rabbit” is said to be very visual but also quite introspective. Statements about cultivars of cubensis having different effects are mostly speculation – any variation in effect is more a reflection of the individual who takes it, not the cultivar! All cubes have the same Psilocybin Gene cluster, and we expect that the environment causes the different proportions of Psilocybin, psilocin, and other tryptamines. Set, setting, and expectation are likely to play a far larger role than any of the minor tryptamines.

How to Grow White Rabbit 

Psilocybe cubensis is quite easy to grow and, as a result, one of the most commonly cultivated mushrooms. In the wild, they grow in tropical and subtropical climates; they only require the appropriate substrate (dung), heat, humidity, and lots of moisture. When cultivated, they are mostly grown indoors — they require little care, some patience, and a clean environment. Most cubensis cultivars are fairly easy, but some cultivars are considered intermediate, and some of the more exotic mutations are advanced projects — having prior success with the generic “Golden Teacher” is recommended before cultivating some of the more intermediate cultivars. 

There are many courses, books, and mushroom cultivation journals that can guide you through the cultivation process. Keeping in mind how easy cubensis is to grow, if you are a beginner, it is important not to overcomplicate the process too much with fancy equipment meant for more complicated cultivars or other species. Most cubensis cultivars are generic regarding substrate and growing environment, and White Rabbit is no different in this regard.

White Rabbit spores can be purchased from well-known spore sellers, such as InoculateTheWorld, MycoLabs, or SporesLabs. When buying spores, remember to purchase from reputable sellers, as it is easy to pass off any spore print as any number of cubensis cultivars — a practice that, in some cases, has led to some mislabelled cultivars being better known than the original cultivar, such as “Golden Halo.”

READ: Meet the Heavenly Golden Halo Mushroom

The first step in the process is creating spawn. Using a kit or following instructions from a course or book, you can inoculate a PF Tek jar or a bag of properly hydrated, sterilized grains such as rye, oats, milo, millet, popcorn, or wheat. When incubated in a low-light environment at around 24° celcius, these grains should myceliate over approximately 14 days.

If you’re using the PF Tek method, once the cakes are fully myceliated, you can remove them from the jars and begin fruiting. If you’re creating grain spawn decide on the growing environment for your bulk grow while the grain myceliates. Options include using monotubs, dub tubs, trays in a shotgun fruiting chamber, or a diffuser tub.

The second part is the bulk substrate, mixing your spawn with a pasteurized bulk substrate composed of manure, coco coir, or straw — check your course or book for substrate recipes — then prepare and place in your chosen fruiting environment. This bulk mix should myceliate over 14 days when incubated in a low light environment at about 24 degrees C. When fully myceliated, try to provide as much fresh air as possible without drying out the substrate, provide indirect lighting, and allow a week for pin formation, and then watch your mushrooms grow. 

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