Lophophora koehresii f. cristata
Lophophora koehresii f. cristata is a rare crested (fasciated) form of Lophophora koehresii, in which the normal single growing point multiplies into a wandering line, so the plant piles up into soft, pale, brain-like folds instead of the usual flat button. Like all crests it is a growth mutation rather than a distinct species, and it keeps the gentle, spineless character of its parent — a small, boneless-looking Lophophora with fine woolly areoles and a soft green skin.
Because it is a cultivated oddity rather than a natural taxon, its care simply follows the parent species, Lophophora koehresii, with a few extra notes for crested growth (see Cultivation).
Description
Where a normal L. koehresii grows as a flattened, ribbed disc with a woolly crown, the crested form fasciates: the apical meristem stretches into a line, and the body grows as a rippling, convoluted mound or fan. The result is a mass of soft ridges crowded with the tufts of white wool that mark the areoles, giving the plant a pale, cushiony, coral-like look. The skin tends toward the same fresh, slightly greyish green as the parent — lacking the glaucous blue of Lophophora williamsii — and the tubercles are low and rounded rather than sharply defined.
Crested tissue rarely flowers as freely or predictably as a normal head, but pink to whitish blooms can still appear from the woolly zones, much as they do on the parent species. No two crested plants look quite alike, which is a large part of their appeal to collectors.
Cultivation
Care is essentially as for the parent species — see Lophophora koehresii for the full routine — with the usual crest caveats:
- Light — crests are prone to reverting or growing soft and shapeless in dim conditions, so give bright light (with only light shading from the harshest afternoon sun) to keep the folds firm and compact.
- Water — the tightly packed ridges trap moisture and dead wool, so water carefully into a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, let it dry fully between drinks, and keep it dry through a cool winter rest. Crests rot even more readily than normal heads.
- Grafting — like many crested cacti, this form is often grafted onto a vigorous rootstock. Grafting speeds up the naturally slow Lophophora growth and lifts the crest clear of the soil, reducing the risk of basal rot; it can also make the fasciation grow more strongly. Plants are also grown on their own roots, which many purists prefer for a more natural look.
For general technique see Watering, Repotting and Pests and diseases.
Legal status
Lophophora koehresii — and therefore this crested form of it — belongs to a genus that is closely associated with peyote (Lophophora williamsii), and it is frequently caught up in the same controls despite containing only low levels of mescaline. Like the entire cactus family, Lophophora is listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. In addition, several jurisdictions restrict or prohibit Lophophora species specifically because of their association with peyote, sometimes without distinguishing between the high-alkaloid L. williamsii and lower-alkaloid relatives such as L. koehresii.
Because the legal position varies widely from country to country (and, in some places, between states or provinces), growers should check the rules that apply where they live before acquiring, selling, or moving these plants. Nursery-propagated, legally sourced material is the responsible route; wild collection is both ecologically damaging and, in many places, illegal.
This article is a horticultural reference only and does not describe or endorse any use of the plant beyond ornamental cultivation.
See also
- Lophophora — the genus overview
- Lophophora koehresii — the parent species
- Lophophora williamsii — peyote, the best-known relative
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · CITES