Lophophora williamsii 'Viesca'
Lophophora williamsii 'Viesca is a locality-provenance form of peyote originating from around the town of Viesca in the state of Coahuila, northern Mexico. It is not a bred cultivar in the horticultural sense but a geographic seed-strain, prized by collectors for the compact, characterful look that plants from this arid corner of the Coahuilan desert tend to show.
As a provenance form rather than a distinct species, its care follows that of the parent species, Lophophora williamsii; see that page and the Lophophora genus overview for full cultivation detail.
Description
Plants grown from Viesca-provenance seed are typically solitary, low, button-shaped bodies in a soft blue-grey to grey-green, with the broad, rounded ribs and gently sunken crown characteristic of the species. In place of spines the areoles carry tufts of woolly hair, and small pink flowers open from the woolly apex in the growing season. As with all locality strains there is natural variation from plant to plant, and the "Viesca" label reflects geographic origin rather than a single fixed appearance; growers often note a firm, somewhat flattened habit and dense apical wool in material from this area.
Cultivation
Cultivation is as for the parent species — see Lophophora williamsii. In brief, Lophophora wants a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, bright light with a little shade from the harshest afternoon sun, and thorough but infrequent watering with the soil allowed to dry completely between drinks. Keep the plant dry and cool through winter to prevent rot and encourage flowering. Like the species, this is a naturally slow grower; some hobbyists speed up young plants by grafting them onto a vigorous rootstock before growing them on their own roots. See Repotting and Pests and diseases for general technique and problem-solving.
Legal status
Peyote, including all locality and provenance forms such as 'Viesca', contains mescaline and is a controlled substance in many jurisdictions. In the United States it is listed as a Schedule I substance, and cultivation or possession is restricted (a longstanding exemption exists for bona fide religious use by the Native American Church). Like the entire cactus family, Lophophora williamsii is also listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. Laws vary considerably from country to country and change over time, so growers should check the rules that apply where they live before acquiring, propagating or trading plants. This article is a horticultural reference only.
See also
- Lophophora williamsii — the parent species
- Lophophora — the genus overview
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed