LOPHOPHORA SPECIES
LOPHOPHORA SPECIES
LOPHOPHORA
Lophophora is the genus name of a number of small Cactus species.
Lophophora species are found in southern Texas (United States, USA)
and in northern and north-eastern Mexico.
The genus Lophophora now contains five species, and several forms and varieties.
Lophophora williamsii
The best-known Lophophora species is Lophophora williamsii (Peyote).
The Peyote is known for its mind-altering properties.
The substance Mescaline in the Peyote causes psychoactive hallucinations.
False Peyote Cacti
The other Lophophora species are also called False Peyote.
False because they are not mind-altering.
They contain no or virtually no Mescaline, and are yellow-green in colour.
The appearance of Lophophora species
The above-ground appearance of all Lophopora species is round and flat.
The cactus body has flakes of white hairs on the outside, resembling a brush.
Below soil, Lophophora Cacti have a long taproot.
This thickened root contains reserve food, and also serves to wedge the Cactus into the soil.
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0.1 OVERVIEW OF LOPHOPHORA SPECIES
The genus Lophophora consists of five species according to the latest understanding.
These five Lophophora species are:
1. Lophophora williamsii (Peyote).
2. Lophophora diffusa (False Peyote).
3. Lophophora fricii (False Peyote).
4. Lophophora koehresii (False Peyote).
5. Lophophora alberto-vojtechii.
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0.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ALL LOPHOPHORA SPECIES
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NR
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NAME
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CHARACTERISTICS
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MESCALINE
NUMBER
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MIND-ALTERING
OPERATION
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1.
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Lophophora williamsii
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round shape with distinct ribs or tubercles, grey-blue-green colour.
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maximum
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strongly
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2.
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Lophophora diffusa
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round shape, indistinct (‘diffuse’) ribs, and lighter yellow-green colour
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minimaal
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None
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3
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Lophophora fricii
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grey-green colour, and purple-pink flowers..
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0%
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None
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4.
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Lophophora koehresii
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small Lophophora species, also described as a variety of Lophophora diffusa.
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0%
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None
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5.
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Lophophora alberto-vojtechii
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smallest Lophophora species.
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0%
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None
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1.1 LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII - DESCRIPTION
The best-known Lophophora species is Lophophora williamsii (Peyote).
Lophophora williamsii is best known by its Mexican name Peyote or Peyotl.
Lophophora williamsii contains relatively high levels of Mescaline, as well as 55 other alkaloids.
Lophophora williamsii (Peyote Cactus) contains the most Mescaline of all Cacti and other plants !
The natural growing area of Lophophora williamsii is in northern and northeastern Mexico, and Texas (USA, USA).
Lophophora williamsii has a blue-green to grey-blue colour when exposed to a lot of sun !
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1.2 LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII FORMS
The forms of Lophophora williamsii are not true species, but natural forms that happen to deviate.
These natural deviations were often previously described as separate varieties, but were later seen as forms.
The forms of Lophophora williamsii differ in appearance or location from the original type-plant.
The forms of Lophophora williamsii probably contain as much Mescaline as Lophophora williamsii itself.
Type-plant = plant on which a botanical description is based.
This plant is often kept as a herbarium plant.
Some Lophophora williamsii forms are:
1. Lophophora williamsii forma caespitosa (also called: Lophophora williamsii var. caespitosa, Lophophora caespitosa).
2. Lophophora williamsii forma decipiens (also called: Lophophora decipiens, Lophophora williamsii var. decipiens).
3. Lophophora williamsii forma pentagona (also called: Lophophora williamsii var. pentagona).
4. Lophophora williamsii forma pluricostata.
5. Lophophora williamsii forma texana (also called: Lophophora williamsii forma texensis, Lophophora williamsii var. texana).
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1.3 LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII VARIETIES
Lophophora williamsii varieties differ more from the type-plant than a form.
In the past, a natural variation was often described as a variety.
But nowadays such a variety is often seen as a normal form of Lophophora williamsii.
Some Lophophora williamsii varieties are:
6. Lophophora fricii variety decipiens (also called: Lophophora decipiens).
The variety decipiens is a particular growth form of at least three Lophophora species.
7. Lophophora williamsii variety jourdaniana.
8. Lophophora williamsii variety lutea.
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1.4 LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII - SPECIES, FORMS AND VARIETIES
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NR
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NAME
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CHARACTERISTICS
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MESCALINE
CONTENT
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PSYCHOACTIVEVE
EFFECTS
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1.
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Lophophora williamsii
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Dark green to grey-blue colour and is psychoactive.
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High
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strong
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2.
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Lophophora williamsii forma caespitosa
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Sprouting form, as a small young plant already makes several heads !
Forms a Peyote cluster with many Cactus heads.
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High
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3.
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Lophophora williamsii forma decipiens
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Form of Peyote with nodules, and thus no vertical ribs.
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High
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4.
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Lophophora williamsii forma pentagona
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Form with five separated ribs.
Often the Peyote Cactus increases the number of ribs later in life.
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High
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5.
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Lophophora williamsii forma pluricostata
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Form with many ribs (13 ribs).
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High
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6.
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Lophophora williamsii forma texana
Lophophora williamsii forma texensis
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Form originating from Texas (USA).
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High
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7.
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Lophophora williamsii variëteit jourdaniana
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Mini thorns, many heads and beautiful purple-red flowers !
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High
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2. LOPHOPHORA DIFFUSA - DESCRIPTION
Lophophora diffusa plants have a round shape with indistinct (‘diffuse’) ribs.
The outside of the Cactus body is yellow-green in colour.
The flowers are white in colour.
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3. LOPHOPHORA FRICII
The Cactus body has a grey-green colour.
The epidermis is rough.
The flowers are deep pink (purple-pink) in colour.
A variety has also been discovered with white flowers (Lophophora fricii forma albiflora).
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4. LOPHOPHORA KOEHRESII (ook genoemd: Lophophora diffusa var. koehresii)
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5. LOPHOPHORA ALBERTO-VOJTECHII
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6. LOPHOPHORA VARIETIES
Lophophora williamsii variëteit jourdaniana (also called Lophophora jourdaniana)
There is no natural locality in nature of this variety.
This Lophophora is probably a cross between L. williamsii and a Gymnocactus species.
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Meaning of the names of Lophophora williamsii and its forms and varieties
caespitosa = forming sods (cluster, groups).
decipiens = deceptive.
echinata = hedgehog-like.
jourdaniana = named after Mr Jourdan.
lutea = yellow.
pentagona = pentagonal.
pluricostata = many-ribbed, with several ribs.
roseiflora = pink flower.
texana = originating from Texas.
texensis = originating from Texas.
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Old names of Lophophora williamsii
Lophophora williamsii has been described under many botanical names.
Current scientific naming (nomenclature) no longer recognises many old botanical names.
Old and invalid names of Lophophora williamsii
Many old botanical names for the genus Lophophora are no longer recognised by current scientific nomenclature.
Old and invalid names for Lophophora williamsii :
1. Anhalonium lewinii.
2. Echinocactus williamsii.
3. Echinocactus williamsii var. lutea.
Meaning of the ancient names of Lophophora williamsii
Anhalonium = name of an alkaloid in Lophophora williamsii.
lewinii = named after the German pharmacist Louis Lewin.
Lewin was the first to research the chemical composition of Lophophora williamsii.
williamsii = named after the Englishman C.H. Williams, the British ambassador to Bahia (Brazil).
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Old names of Lophophora species
Lophophora echinata var. diffusa.
Lophophora echinata var. lutea
Lophophora roseiflora = Lophophora fricii.
Lophophora tesselatus = Lophophora fricii.
Lophophora texensis = Lophophora williamsii
Lophophora tiegleri = Lophophora ziegleri = Lophophora lewinii (yellow-green epidermis, pale yellow flower).
Lophophora viridescens = L. diffusa ssp. viridescens = Lophophora koehresii.
Lophophora ziegleri = Lophophora diffusa.
Lophophora ziegleriana = Lophophora diffusa.
Meaning of the old names of Lophophora species
diffusa = diffuse, extensive.
echinata = hedgehog-like.
lewinii = named after the German pharmacist Louis Lewin.
Lewin was the first to research the chemical composition of Lophophora williamsii.
lutea = yellow.
roseiflora = pink flower.
tesselatus = mosaic.
texana = native to Texas.
texensis = originating from Texas.
tiegleri = may be a corruption of ziegleri.
ziegleri = named after Ziegler.
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INTERCHANGED LOPHOPHORA SPECIES
PEYOTE IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH FALSE PEYOTE CACTI
The Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is often confused with Lophophora diffusa or Lophophora fricii (False Peyote Cacti).
Also by reputable sellers of Smartshops (online, and in the street) of Peyote Cacti !
Lophophora diffusa is yellow-green in colour, and has a round shape with no protruding ribs or protruding elevations (lumps).
Lophophora fricii has a grey-green colour, a rough epidermis, and a dark pink flower.
So make sure you buy the right species (Lophophora williamsii, with a blue-green colour) !
See also the section: Interhanged Mescaline Cactus species
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