Lophophora fricii f. variegata
Lophophora fricii f. variegata is a variegated form of Lophophora fricii, prized for combining the species' large, flattened, blue-green body with irregular sectors of yellow, cream and pink where the normal green pigment is reduced. Like all variegates it is a colour mutation rather than a distinct plant, and its care follows that of the parent species, Lophophora fricii.
Description
The plant keeps the broad, low-domed, spineless form typical of L. fricii — a firm, flat-topped button with wide, softly rounded ribs and a woolly, tufted crown. What sets the variegated form apart is the loss of chlorophyll across parts of the body, which unmasks the underlying yellow and pink pigments. The result is a patchwork of green, gold and rose-tinted sectors whose pattern differs from plant to plant and can shift as the cactus grows.
Because variegation removes the green tissue the plant relies on to feed itself, heavily marked specimens grow more slowly than plain green plants, and a body that variegates completely (with no green left) cannot survive on its own roots. The deep pink flowers, when they appear, emerge from the woolly crown as in the parent species.
Cultivation
Care is as for the parent species — see Lophophora and the general guides to Watering and Soil and potting mix — with a few adjustments for the variegation:
- Light — variegated plants have less chlorophyll, so many growers give them slightly brighter light than plain plants to compensate; however, the pale sectors scorch easily, so increase exposure gradually and shade from the fiercest afternoon sun.
- Grafting — weakly variegated or nearly chlorophyll-free plants are often maintained by grafting onto a vigorous rootstock, which supplies the sugars the reduced green tissue cannot make. Strongly green-and-yellow plants usually grow well on their own roots.
- Watering — as with all Lophophora, slow growth means a slow metabolism; water sparingly, let the mix dry fully between waterings, and keep the plant dry and cool in winter. See Repotting for potting technique.
Stable, attractively balanced variegation is difficult to keep true, since the pattern can revert to green or, less happily, drift toward all-yellow tissue that eventually starves.
Legal status
Lophophora fricii belongs to a genus that includes Lophophora williamsii (peyote), and as a member of the Cactaceae the whole genus is listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. In several jurisdictions Lophophora plants are additionally restricted under laws aimed at peyote, and in practice L. fricii — and its variegated forms — is often swept up in those controls even though the species contains only low levels of mescaline compared with true peyote.[1] This section is provided for horticultural and legal-awareness purposes only.
See also
- Lophophora — the genus overview
- Lophophora williamsii — peyote, the best-known relative
- Variegation · Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
References
- ↑ Because legal treatment of Lophophora varies widely between countries and states, growers should check the rules that apply where they live before acquiring or trading plants.