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Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)

Description

Lophophora williamsii is a species in the genus Lophophora of the cactus family(Cactaceae). The specific epithet williamsiihonors either the English Reverend Father Theodore Williams, whoowned a cactus collectionin Hendon Vicarage ( Middlesex ), or - more likely - the Englishman CH Williams, who traveled to the Brazilian state of Bahia. Common names are "peyote", "peyote", "Challote", "mescal" and "Mescal Button". In Aztec she is called peyōtl, from which the Spanish name "Peyote" derives. Lophophora williamsii grows alone or makes up to a meter in diameter. The spherical to flattened globular shoots are bluish green or occasionally reddish green. The shoots reach stature heights between 2 and 6 centimeters and diameter of 4 to 11 centimeters. The four to 14 ribs are usually well formed. These usually have distinct, but very variable Zwischenfurchen and sometimes only simple humps. The areoles carry a tuft of soft, yellowish or whitish hair . Thorns are missing. The usually pink or slightly pink-white flowers can sometimes be reddish. They have a diameter between 1 and 2.2 centimeters. Her pericarp is bald.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum: Magnoliophyta

        • Class: Magnoliopsida

          • Order: Caryophyllales

            • Family: Cactaceae

              • Genus: Lophophora