Cactus of the Week: Peyote
This tiny, thorn less cactus is native to the deserts of northern Mexico and southern Texas, and has been around for centuries. Prized by the Native Americans for its spiritual effects, so much that an entire religion is devoted to it, formally recognized as the Native American Church. In modern times, Peyote are a trophy specimen among cactus enthusiasts around the world, cherished for its beautiful structure. The lack of thorns makes the Lophophora group of cacti quite appealing for ornamental purposes, not to mention the flowers are quite beautiful.
Why Can’t I Find Them Anywhere?
Although it’s completely legal to grow a Peyote cactus in Canada, the seeds are extremely hard to find and most often difficult to grow. This is due to their extremely slow growth rate, it can take up to 10-30 years to produce flowers! (Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018, para. 2). But most information regarding Peyote was hidden from the public eye because of its status as a controlled substance in several countries- ”All parts of peyote (Lophophora williamsii) plants and the seeds thereof are classified as Schedule I substances in the United States. Also, peyote is illegal to posses in France, Russia, and possibly more” (Lophophora, 2000, para. 2).
Pretty crazy for a cactus, right? But just how hallucinogenic is it? Peyote aka Lophophora williamsii, naturally produces a large amount of mescaline.
Mesca- who?
Time for a bit of science! Mescaline is the most abundant (out of 28) alkaloid produced by Peyote. “The mescaline molecule is related structurally to two hormones secreted by the adrenal glands, adrenaline and noradrenaline; both are catecholamine compounds that take part in the transmission of nerve impulses” (Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018, para.1).
When ingested by humans, it can induce powerful visual distortion and is said to provide medicinal healing during traditional Native American rituals. Experiences can vary in intensity from person to person, and the same person may have multiple different experiences each time they consume it. This is common among hallucinogens. Side effects typically include nausea and vomiting; however, I believe that could also be from eating so much raw cactus. Mescaline itself is a controlled substance in Canada, (so don’t try this at home!) but you could synthesize it in a lab to avoid nausea to some extent.
Have Your Own Peyote!
Now we know why peyote has been hidden from the public eye over the last century, but that only makes the hunt for your own peyote more exciting. Even if you manage to get your hands on one, they are high maintenance when compared to the average cactus. Peyote only grow in limestone banks naturally, so it is best to replicate their natural habitat as best you can. Do this by adding limestone to your regular succulent and cactus mix potting mixture. They also grow significantly slower that a lot of other cacti, as mentioned earlier, so starting these from seed requires a lot of patience. (Who needs kids when you can watch your peyote grow for decades!) Don’t let this article discourage you from adding this beautiful specimen to your collection! Their growth rate is also reflected in their prices. It can take up to 10 years for a peyote to reach just a few centimeters wide, and that tiny cactus could sell for up to $100!
How Can I make them grow FASTER?
One of the main drawbacks to adding the Peyote to your collection is the sheer amount of time it will take you to grow some. Although their slow growth rate is somewhat inevitable, we can do our part to give them everything they need to grow correctly! We already mentioned giving them a limestone based soil, but once they have sprouted there is the option to graft the peyote to a rootstalk cactus so they will grow like crazy! This is because the root stalk has already established itself, and once the peyote has fused with this new root stalk, it is sure to reach optimal growth. This might sound daunting for beginners, but it’s a lot easier than it sounds. I’ll post a link to a grafting tutorial for those interested.
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