1. CAP (size - shape stages - colors)
The primordia start dark reddish. The cap is a fairly dark
reddish (deep colors) and thick. It starts dome like and goes
to plane at maturity and continues to grow until it is upturned
and convoluted, with the gills a very deep brown, with streaks
of purple (spore deposits) across and around the cap.
2. STEM (length - girth - flesh - colors)
It can be short and fat or long and hefty. It depends on the
air and humidity. The PF race responds to this seriously.
with lots of air and humidity, the PF stem is long, slender,
thick fleshed and white. The flesh of the PF race is unique
amongst all the races. It is very much like soft moist
BREAD. But sometimes there can be a bit of fibrousness here and
there.
3. VEIL (deliquescent - partly deliquescent - persistant anulus)
The PF race has a definitely deliquescent veil. When the veil
breaks during growth of the shroom, it usually breaks off from
the stem and breaks up around the gills, leaving veil remnants
all over the gills and mainly on the edges. But, sometimes there
is a veil that becomes like an anulus (around the stem) but at
close inspection, the veil will not be attached securely and
usually might just hang in part. Also, there is serious differences
amongst the races at how the gills attach to the stem under
the cap. The PF gills attach closely. Whereas the Malaysian
gills have a rather large gap where the gills attach to the underside
of the cap. Gill stem and cap attachment is a definite trait
of races, but unfortuneatly, further observations and notes are
required for any in depth descriptions. But note that all these
races have distinct gill attachment traits that adds to the
differences!
4. SPORULATION (at what developement stage does it begin?)
The PF race is a slow maturing shroom. It can grow large and
the cap expand, but the gills will still be biege or light
colored. Then, after about a day or two, the purple deposits
of the spores will appear on the stem, and the gills will be
darker brown. But sometimes, sterile specimens will appear.
These are shrooms that don't develope spores and the gills
remain distinctly light colored (biege - tan - yellowish).
They have no spores. I once knew someone who cloned this
type of sterile strain and claimed it to be the
best in potency, overall. This fits with the observation that
potency diminishes as sporulation developes. So without
sporulation ever starting, the potency doesn't diminish
in relation.
5. TENACIOUSNES (Strength of attachment of the stem base to the cake)
The PF is the champ at this. Usually the PF shroom as a
large base (big foot). In fact, "BIG FOOT" should be the
sur name of the PF race. This makes the PF race the most
tenacious to the substrate of them all. When harvested, it is
common to pull off large chunks of cake in the process.
6. SHAPE SHIFTING (shapes and changes of flush to flush -
strain to strain)
The PF race is the champ in this also. It goes from ugly little
abhorts and convoluted dwarfs, to tall robust white thick stemed
specimens with large deep reddish colored caps that go to plane and
then wildly upturn at full maturity.
7. SIZE TENDANCIES (overall size of the mushroom at maturity)
Small to about as big as they get.
8. GESTATION PERIOD (generalized time of primordia appearance after
inoculation)
The PF might be the champ here also. It is the first of any
of these shrooms observed to form primordia invitro. The others
can, but the PF is a speed demon in comparison. And the PF invitro
primordiation is far more numerous if allowed to develope
and not birth so quick. But also, many if not most
of the primordia will abort. The PF shroom is the champ at
aborting shrooms also. That is why it has such a love hate
relationship with the hobbiests.
9. POTENCY (This simply comes down to how fast the shroom loses its
latent potency - relating to the advent of sporulation)
The PF potency gets a big thumbs up from everywhere. Its advantage
is that is a slow maturer, so it gives a wider envelope
for the shroom to be harvested in its peak potency. A lot
of hobbiests rate the PF race number one in potency. But that
is not written in stone.
10. FLUSHING (Ability to repeat flush)
The PF race usually flushes rather poorly on the first flush, giving
mostly abhorts. And it can flush nicely the first time. But with
a recasing treament. the second flush will be totally different and
be excellent. The third flush is always decent and one can squeeze
the lemon for nice looking healthy third flush stragglers. But all
in all, it is good for three interesting flushes, PF style.
It appears that the PF spore race garners a love hate affair. People either hate it or love it. Even after enduring a severe flogging from the 1999 spore wars (PF copy cats and spore sellers claimed that it was actually a poisonous mushroom - which was believed by the unitiated for a short while). Now, it has regained its favored position amongst a host of mycophiles as either their favorite or at least near the top of the list. Interestingly, there are many who claim that the PF race is the most potent. But then there are many who don't. But whatever the judgement call would be, it is not a bad cubie, so that makes it as good as any, and in my opinion, DAMN good.