Scientific/Taxonomic Name: Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer
Species: Psilocybe cubensis
Genetic Lineage: Melmac × Blue Meanie (P. cubensis)
Generation: Unknown. Dino-Spores has worked the received material through approximately two subsequent generations.
Genetic Type: Intraspecific hybrid
Specimen Type: Swab 2pk, Syringe 10mL
iNat# (if available): Not available. No verified iNaturalist observation is currently associated with this particular genetic line.
Intended Use: Spores are intended for microscopy and taxonomic purposes.
 
About
Vader is a historically interesting Psilocybe cubensis hybrid originally developed by Basidium Equilibrium around 2018.
 
The genetic combines two established lines with their own histories in the mushroom community: Melmac, associated with older Penis Envy genetics, and the longstanding Blue Meanie cubensis variety.
 
Vader eventually entered the Dino-Spores genetic library through fellow mycologist Brahman Shaman. Although it has remained in our collection for years, Vader received relatively little attention as newer breeding projects, wild species, and other work took priority.
 
Our historical documentation of the line includes unusually large fruiting bodies, distinctive morphological variation, and observations from other members of the mycology community. One of our early grows produced a single first-flush fruit weighing more than 200 grams, which became the subject of a community Guess the Weight giveaway.
 
We're revisiting Vader as part of an ongoing effort to preserve, document, and reintroduce historically interesting genetics from the Dino-Spores collection.
 
Genetics
Vader is an intraspecific hybrid attributed to a cross between two Psilocybe cubensis genetic lines:
 
Melmac × Blue Meanie
 
Melmac belongs to the broader historical lineage associated with Penis Envy genetics. Its history includes connections to older material circulated under names including Homestead and Hawkseye, although the historical relationships between these older lines are not documented well enough to assign a definitive deeper pedigree to Vader's Melmac parent.
 
Blue Meanie is an established P. cubensis variety documented within the mushroom community since at least the early 2000s. The Blue Meanie parent of Vader should not be confused with Panaeolus cyanescens, which has also historically been called “Blue Meanie.”
 
The original hybridization is attributed to Basidium Equilibrium, with creation reported around 2018 and initial release around 2019.
 
The exact Melmac parental isolation remains unconfirmed.
 
Dino-Spores acquired its Vader material through Brahman Shaman, who maintained and documented the genetic before sharing it with Yoshi Amano.
 
The generation of the material received from Brahman Shaman is unknown. Since acquiring it, Dino-Spores has worked the line through approximately two additional generations. Because the starting generation cannot currently be verified, we do not assign a specific filial generation to the material offered here.
 
Microscopy Characteristics
Spore morphology: Subellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores, consistent with the general morphology of Psilocybe cubensis.
 
Pigmentation: Dark brown to purple-brown. Dense spore deposits may appear nearly black.
 
Spore surface: Smooth, with relatively thick walls.
 
Germ pore: Distinct apical germ pore characteristic of P. cubensis.
 
Typical species-level dimensions: Approximately 10–17 × 6–10 µm, depending on the examined collection and reference.
 
Distinguishing characteristics: Vader's documented macroscopic expressions include substantial stems, broad caps, unusually large individual fruiting bodies, and occasional unusual morphology. These macroscopic characteristics should not be interpreted as features by which Vader can reliably be distinguished from other P. cubensis varieties through spore microscopy alone.
 
Microscopy note: The characteristics above describe Psilocybe cubensis generally. Dino-Spores has not yet established a verified Vader-specific spore measurement dataset.