Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi | |
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In Hawaii | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Genus: | Trichocereus |
Species: | |
Variety: | T. m. var. pachanoi
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Trinomial name | |
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi (Britton and Rose) Albesiano & R.Kiesling 2012
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi (synonyms including Trichocereus pachanoi and Echinopsis pachanoi) is a fast-growing columnar cactus found in the Andes at 2,000–3,000 m (6,600–9,800 ft) in altitude.[3][4] It is one of a number of kinds of cacti known as San Pedro cactus. It is native to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia,[2] but also found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela and cultivated in other parts of the world.[5][6] Uses for it include traditional medicine and traditional veterinary medicine, and it is widely grown as an ornamental cactus. It has been used for healing and religious divination in the Andes Mountains region for over 3,000 years.[7]
Description
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi is native to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. Its stems are light to dark green, sometimes glaucous, with a diameter of 6–15 cm (2.4–5.9 in) and usually 6–8 ribs. The whitish areoles may produce up to seven yellow to brown spines, each up to 2 cm (0.8 in) long although typically shorter in cultivated varieties, sometimes being mostly spineless.[4] The number and length of the spines is a feature that distinguishes T. macrogonus var. pachanoi from var. macrogonus, which may have up to 20 spines with three or four longer and more robust central ones up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long.[8] The areoles are spaced evenly along the ribs, approximately 2 cm (0.8 in) apart.[5] Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi is normally 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall and has multiple branches, usually extending from the base but will emerge around broken branches.[4] The tallest recorded specimen was 12.2 metres (40 ft) tall.[5] White flowers are produced at the end of the stems; they open at night and last for about two days. Large numbers can be produced by well established cacti and may open new flowers over a period of weeks. The flowers are large, around 19–24 cm (7.5–9.4 in) long with a diameter of up to 20 cm (7.9 in) and are highly fragrant. There are black hairs along the length of the thick base leading to the flower. Oblong dark green fruits are produced after fertilization, about 3 cm (1.2 in) across and 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) long,[4] eventually bursting open to reveal a white flesh filled with small seeds.
Taxonomy
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi was first described as the species Trichocereus pachanoi by Britton and Rose in 1920. As a species, it has also been placed in the genera Cereus and Echinopsis. It was reduced to a variety of Trichocereus macrogonus in 2012. It can be distinguished from T. macrogonus var. macrogonus by the smaller number of spines per areole, and usually being somewhat shorter with more slender stems.[8]
Traditional uses
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi is known by many names throughout
Alkaloids
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi contains a number of
Mescaline is a
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the highest concentration of active substances is found in the layer of green
Cultivation
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi in
In winter, plants will
Propagation from cuttings
Like many other plants, Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi can be propagated from cuttings. The result is a genetic clone of the parent plant.[26] A cactus column can be also laid on its side on the ground (like a log), and eventually roots will sprout from it and grow into the ground. After time, sprouts will form and cactus columns will grow upward out of it along its length.[26]
From seed
Like a lot of its relatives, Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi is easily grown from seed, often by means of a so-called "Takeaway Tek".[27][28][29] This term refers to the practice of the sowing of Trichocereus (and sometimes other types of cactus) seed into plastic containers, such as those many food takeaways are delivered in. This creates a semi-controlled humidity environment chamber for six months to a year, in which the seed may germinate and then grow relatively unbothered by environmental contamination.[30]
Legality
In most countries, it is legal to cultivate Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi. In countries where possession of mescaline and related compounds is illegal and highly penalized, cultivation for the purposes of consumption is most likely illegal and also highly penalized. This is the case in the United States, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Germany, and New Zealand, where it is currently legal to cultivate the San Pedro cactus for gardening and ornamental purposes, but not for consumption.[citation needed]
Gallery
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Seeds
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Three-week-old seedling
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Five-month-old seedling
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The fruit after bursting open, revealing the seeds in a sweet flesh.
See also
References
- ^ Ostalaza, C., Cáceres, F. & Roque, J. 2017. Echinopsis pachanoi (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152445A121474583. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152445A121474583.en. Downloaded on 11 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi (Britton & Rose) Albesiano & R.Kiesling". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ISBN 978-3-85502-570-1.
- ^ a b c d Anderson 2001, p. 276.
- ^ a b c d e Visionary Cactus Guide, Erowid.org, retrieved 2012-10-24
- ^ Mchem, Benjamin Bury (2021-08-02). "Could Synthetic Mescaline Protect Declining Peyote Populations?". Chacruna. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ISBN 978-0-914171-51-5.
- ^ S2CID 84425131
- ^ Richard Evans Schultes; Albert Hofmann. Plantas de los dioses. Origenes del uso de los alucinogenos (in Spanish).
- ICEERS. 2019-09-20. Archivedfrom the original on 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- PMID 17090303.
- S2CID 252954052.
- ISBN 9782821844537. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-88192-498-5. pp. 45–49.
- ^ "Declaran Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación a los conocimientos, saberes y usos del cactus San Pedro". elperuano.pe (in Spanish). 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- PMID 20637277. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- PMID 4773270. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Anderson 2001, pp. 44–49.
- S2CID 252548055.
- ISSN 1050-8619.
- PMID 36844095.
- .
- ^ "San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi)". Desert-tropicals.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-21. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ^ "Echinopsis pachanoi (San Pedro Cactus)". Worldofsucculents.com. 9 June 2018.
- ^ Antosh, Gary (2021-07-06). "Growing San Pedro Cactus: How To Care For Trichocereus Pachanoi". Plant Care Today. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
- ^ a b "What if the cut end doesn't dry properly and starts to mold" (PDF). Sacredcactus.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
- ^ "Grow Cacti from Seed - Enhanced Takeaway Tek". Arkhamsbotanical.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
- ^ "How to Grow Trichocereus Cacti from Seed". Dissidentreality.com. 2018-07-15. Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
- ^ "Takeaway Tek (How to germinate cacti seeds)". Herbalistics.com. 2015-07-07.
- ^ "Coke bottle tek: A terrarium technique". Entheogenesis Australis. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
Further reading
- Jay, Mike (2019). Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic. Yale University Press.
- Pollan, Michael (2021). This Is Your Mind on Plants. Penguin Press.
- Sharon, Douglas (2000). Shamanism & the Sacred Cactus: Ethnoarchaeological Evidence for San Pedro Use in Northern Peru. San Diego Museum of Man.