Lophophora williamsii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- loh-foh-FOR-ah wil-YAMS-ee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Small, hemispherical, spineless, fleshy cactus with the low rounded sections bearing a tuft of yellow-white hairs at the summit. Naturally grows in gravelly clay and loam soils on gentle slopes and needs part shade. It is illegal in most of the western world.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lophophora
- Species:
- williamsii
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in Native American ceremonies
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern USA, Mexico
- Distribution:
- Southern Texas and northern Mexico.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Pink when ripe
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- 0.5 to 1-inch flowers from the center of the plant
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Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Low rounded sections bearing a tuft of yellow-white hairs at the summit
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- 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.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids mescaline, lophophorine, and others
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Stems