Lophophora williamsii: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used in Native American ceremonies
Plant Profile: Lophophora williamsii
Taxonomy: Lophophora williamsiiNames
Mescal, Mescal Buttons, Peyote
Phonetic Spelling:loh-foh-FOR-ah wil-YAMS-ee-eye
Genus:Lophophora
Species:williamsii
Family:Cactaceae
This small, rounded cactus is spineless and fleshy, characterized by its hemispherical shape and a tuft of yellow-white hairs at the top. It typically thrives in gravelly clay and loamy soils found on gentle slopes, requiring partial shade for optimal growth. Additionally, it is prohibited in many regions of the western world.
Lophophora williamsii Feature Summary
Lophophora williamsii Image Gallery
Tags
#cultivars
#poisonous
#succulent
#pink flowers
#slow growing
#illegal
#hallucinogenic
#partial shade tolerant
Similar Plants
Lophophora williamsii Feature Summary
Attributes
Used in Native American ceremonies
Southwestern USA, Mexico
Southern Texas and northern Mexico.
Perennial
Fruit
Flowers
0.5 to 1-inch flowers from the center of the plant
Pink
White
Gold/Yellow
7 - 20 petals/rays
Saucer
Stem
Low rounded sections bearing a tuft of yellow-white hairs at the summit
Green
Gold/Yellow
White
Blue
Poisonous to Humans
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Fresh or dried pieces of all parts above-ground ("peyote buttons") cause illusions, hallucinations, headache, pupil dilation, blurred vision, muscular relaxation, dizziness, circulatory depression, and severe stomach pain with vomiting and diarrhea.
Alkaloids mescaline, lophophorine, and others
Stems
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Shallow Rocky
Leaves
Landscape
Poisonous to Humans
Lophophora williamsii Image Gallery
Lophophora williamsii Attributes
Lophophora williamsii: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southwestern USA, Mexico
Lophophora williamsii: Distribution
Southern Texas and northern Mexico.
Lophophora williamsii: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Lophophora williamsii Fruit
Lophophora williamsii: Fruit Description
Pink when ripe
Lophophora williamsii: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Lophophora williamsii: Fruit Color
Pink
Lophophora williamsii Flowers
Lophophora williamsii: Flower Description
0.5 to 1-inch flowers from the center of the plant
Lophophora williamsii: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Pink
White
Lophophora williamsii: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Lophophora williamsii: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Lophophora williamsii: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Lophophora williamsii Stem
Lophophora williamsii: Stem Description
Low rounded sections bearing a tuft of yellow-white hairs at the summit
Lophophora williamsii: Stem Color
Blue
Gold/Yellow
Green
White
Lophophora williamsii: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Lophophora williamsii Poisonous to Humans
Lophophora williamsii: Poison Symptoms
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Fresh or dried pieces of all parts above-ground ("peyote buttons") cause illusions, hallucinations, headache, pupil dilation, blurred vision, muscular relaxation, dizziness, circulatory depression, and severe stomach pain with vomiting and diarrhea.
Lophophora williamsii: Poison Toxic Principle
Alkaloids mescaline, lophophorine, and others
Lophophora williamsii: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Lophophora williamsii: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Lophophora williamsii: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Lophophora williamsii Whole Plant Traits
Lophophora williamsii: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Lophophora williamsii: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Lophophora williamsii: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Lophophora williamsii Cultural Conditions
Lophophora williamsii: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Lophophora williamsii: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Lophophora williamsii: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Lophophora williamsii Leaves
Lophophora williamsii: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Lophophora williamsii Landscape
Lophophora williamsii: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
