Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small, spineless cactus known for its unique properties. This guide provides visual information to help identify peyote in its natural environment, focusing on its distinct features and typical growing conditions.
Key Visual Characteristics
Peyote is a low-growing succulent, appearing as a small, flattened, disc-shaped plant. It typically measures 4 to 12 centimeters (1.6 to 4.7 inches) in diameter and 2 to 7 centimeters (0.79 to 2.76 inches) in height above ground. Its body is fleshy, with colors ranging from bluish-green to light grayish-green.
The spineless stem features low, rounded sections, often called “buttons” or tubercles, typically with 5 to 13 ribs. A distinctive feature is the presence of pale yellow to white woolly tufts of hairs, called areoles, at the summit of these sections. These woolly tufts help differentiate peyote from many other cacti.
Small, star-shaped flowers, 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in diameter, emerge from the plant’s center. These blooms are usually pink or white and appear from May through September. After flowering, a club-shaped, often pink-hued, berry fruit may develop. The plant’s roots are fleshy and carrot-shaped, extending several centimeters below the surface.
Where Peyote Grows
Peyote is native to arid and semi-arid regions of North America, primarily the Chihuahuan Desert. Its range extends across northern Mexico and into southern Texas, largely restricted to a narrow strip of land along the Rio Grande.
The plant thrives in limestone soils, often called caliche soils. It grows among rocks and scrub brush in dry, gravelly, well-drained loamy soils. Peyote often seeks partial shade, growing beneath shrubs and small trees that protect it from harsh direct sunlight and retain soil moisture.
Distinguishing Peyote from Similar Plants
Accurate identification requires differentiating peyote from similar cacti and succulents. Other Lophophora species, such as Lophophora diffusa, can be confused with Lophophora williamsii. L. diffusa often has a paler, more lime-green color and broader, wavier ribs compared to L. williamsii’s bluer-green hue and more defined ribs.
Other cacti may possess spines, a feature absent in mature peyote plants. While young seedlings can have vestigial spines, adult plants do not develop them. The distinct tufts of woolly hairs on its rounded sections, combined with its spineless, low-growing, and disc-like form, help distinguish it from many spiny or columnar cacti. Its pink or white flower colors and compact, hemispherical structure are also key differentiating characteristics.