Publication: J. Cact. Succ. Soc. Amer. 2: 490. 1931
Description
The Lophophoras are famous spineless cacti commonly known as “Peyote”. The stem is often glaucous green, dull bluish or greyish green, very succulent, globular, top-shaped, or somewhat flattened with a woolly top. There are several different species, variety and forms (plus some intermediates and hybrid populations) In addition to the foregoing there exists an impressive array of cristates which forms nicely contorted and convoluted brain-like mounds. They are some of the more striking and priced crested cacti. They shows different crested shapes each of them has its own particular fascination.
Remarks: The long time known L. williamsii ‘Cristata’ is the more common and famous, but more recently cristates of segregate species have been illustrated and given Japanese names by Sato (1999).
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar) and habitat (Mexico)
Cultivation and Propagation
All Lophophora species are extremely slow growing, often taking up to thirty years to reach flowering age in the wild (about the size of a golf ball, not including its root). Human cultivated specimens grow considerably faster, usually taking from six to ten years to go from seedling to mature flowering adult.
Soil: Because of the tap root they are very rot prone, so use highly gritty compost with much drainage.
Exposure: Requires half shade to part sun.
Moisture: Waterings should be rather infrequent to keep the plant compact and not to become excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance, watering it properly is often difficult because this plant tends to crack open or rot if over-watered. The fact that the plant retracts into the soil and assume a grey-green colouring between watering, is perfectly natural and doesn’t cause any damage.
Overwatering: Keep completely dry and cool in winter (An unheated greenhouse would be perfect) or when night temperatures remain below 10° C, it can survive low temperatures (appr. -7°C) for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.
Specific tips for growing the crested forms: The crests are frequently grafted onto columnar cacti but are easily grown on their own roots. Any normal shoots should be removed to promote the growth of the crest.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings in summer (Cuttings will root only in hot weather. Cuttings must be kept very dry to root). The sowing of seeds collected on crested specimen give occasionally raise to some crested plants, but whit a very low frequency. The seeds requiring hot and humid conditions to germinate.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Terry, M. 2013. Lophophora williamsii. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 February 2014.
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Edward F. Anderson “Peyote: The Divine Cactus” University of Arizona Press, 1996
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