Lophophora williamsii 'Kikko'
Lophophora williamsii 'Kikko is a Japanese-selected cultivar of peyote, prized by collectors for its unusual body geometry. Where the wild plant carries broad, flat-topped ribs, 'Kikko' has been selected for wide, elongated tubercles that stand out from the body like the plates of a tortoise's shell — the name derives from the Japanese kikkō (亀甲), meaning "tortoise-shell." Its care follows that of the parent species, Lophophora williamsii.
Description
'Kikko' is a small, spineless, blue-green button cactus in the mould of ordinary peyote, but its ribs are broken up into distinct, projecting tubercles that are noticeably wider, longer and more prominent than the low mounds of the typical form. Viewed from above, these raised, angular tubercles give the crown a segmented, tessellated look reminiscent of a tortoise's carapace, which is the whole point of the selection. As with the species, the areoles at the tubercle tips bear tufts of soft wool rather than spines.
The plant is slow-growing and forms a solitary head that may eventually offset with age or after damage to the growing point. Flowers, when they come, emerge from the woolly crown and are small and pink, matching those of the parent species. The strength of the tortoise-shell character varies from seedling to seedling, and growers select and re-select for the most pronounced expression.
Cultivation
Care is as for the parent species; see Lophophora williamsii for full detail. In brief, 'Kikko' wants bright light, a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, and careful watering — soak only when the soil has dried completely, and keep the plant dry and cool through winter. Like all Lophophora, it is far more often lost to overwatering and rot than to neglect, and the fleshy taproot resents sitting in damp soil.
Because the cultivar is slow and valued, seedlings are frequently grafted onto a vigorous rootstock (such as Myrtillocactus or Pereskiopsis) to speed them along; grafted plants grow faster and larger but often express a plumper, less sharply defined tubercle than plants grown hard on their own roots. Many growers deliberately keep 'Kikko' lean and in strong light to encourage the crispest tortoise-shell definition. See Repotting for handling the taproot.
Propagation
Like the species, 'Kikko' is maintained chiefly from seed, with growers selecting the seedlings that show the tortoise-shell trait most strongly. The trait is not perfectly fixed, so a seed batch will show a range of expression. Offsets, when a plant produces them, can be removed and rooted or grafted; see Propagation — offsets and Grafting.
Legal status
Lophophora williamsii and its cultivars, including 'Kikko', contain mescaline and are controlled in many jurisdictions. In the United States the plant is a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law; a longstanding exemption permits use in bona fide religious ceremonies of the Native American Church. Like the entire cactus family, Lophophora is also listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. Laws vary widely from country to country and, within the US, from state to state, so growers should check the rules that apply where they live before acquiring or trading plants. This entry is horticultural reference only.
See also
- Lophophora williamsii — the parent species
- Lophophora — the genus overview
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Repotting