Lophophora fricii 'Viesca'
Lophophora fricii 'Viesca is a provenance (locality) form of the spineless button cactus Lophophora fricii, originating from the area around Viesca in the Mexican state of Coahuila, close to the species' type locality. Rather than a selectively bred cultivar, it is a collector's designation marking wild-provenance stock from a particular place — grown on to preserve the look and geographic origin of that population.
Because it is a locality form rather than a distinct selection, its care is identical to that of the parent species; see Lophophora for full cultivation detail.
Description
Like other Lophophora fricii, the 'Viesca' form is a soft, spineless, blue-green to grey-green cactus that grows as a low, rounded button, often broader than tall. The body is divided into broad, flat-topped ribs bearing tufts of pale wool at the areoles, and it develops a thick, carrot-like taproot. Older plants may slowly offset to form small clumps. Flowers are typically pink, often a deep or carmine-pink, emerging from the woolly crown.
Provenance forms like this one are valued because they show the size, colour and rib character typical of plants from a single wild locality, rather than the more variable appearance of mixed-origin seed. Differences between locality forms are subtle and best appreciated in mature plants.
Cultivation
Care follows the parent species exactly — see Lophophora. In short, L. fricii is slow-growing and intolerant of excess moisture. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a deep pot that accommodates the taproot, give it bright light, and water only once the soil has dried completely. Keep the plant dry and cool through winter to prevent rot and encourage flowering. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Provenance plants are usually maintained on their own roots to keep their natural, compact habit, though slow seedlings are sometimes grafted to speed early growth before being returned to their own roots.
Propagation
Seed is the usual method, and it is the best way to keep a locality form true — seed collected from documented Viesca-provenance parents perpetuates the population. Offsets, where produced, can also be removed and rooted. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets.
Legal status
The genus Lophophora is listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade in these plants is regulated regardless of species or locality form. In addition, some Lophophora are commonly grouped with peyote (Lophophora williamsii) under national and regional controlled-plant laws, and in a number of jurisdictions the whole genus — including L. fricii — is restricted to some degree. Because rules vary widely by country and state, growers should check the regulations that apply where they live before acquiring or trading plants.
This entry is provided for horticultural and botanical reference only.
See also
- Lophophora — the genus overview and parent species care
- CITES
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets