Lophophora williamsii var. decipiens
Lophophora williamsii var. decipiens is a historically named variant of peyote that is today regarded as a form of the ordinary species rather than a distinct taxon. The Latin epithet decipiens means "deceiving," and the name was historically applied to plants that looked somewhat atypical; those differences, however, fall well within the natural variation of Lophophora williamsii. It is still circulated under this label by collectors who value the particular look it denotes, and its care is identical to that of the parent species.
Because this is a synonym-rank name applied to peyote, L. williamsii var. decipiens carries exactly the same legal restrictions as the species (see Legal status below).
Description
Plants grown under the decipiens label look like Lophophora williamsii in every essential respect: a soft, spineless, blue-green to grey-green button with a slightly domed top, low broad ribs bearing tufts of white wool at the areoles, and a stout taproot. The features historically attributed to the form — subtle differences in rib count, body colour or the arrangement of the woolly podaria — are the kinds of trait that vary continuously from plant to plant across wild and cultivated peyote alike, which is why modern treatments fold decipiens back into the species. Small pink flowers open from the woolly crown in the growing season, as in ordinary peyote.
Because the name rests on appearance rather than a stable genetic difference, plants sold as decipiens are not perfectly uniform; think of it as a collector's descriptive label rather than a true cultivar with fixed characteristics.
Cultivation
Care follows the parent species in every respect — see Lophophora williamsii for the full account. In brief, grow in a very free-draining, largely mineral mix, give bright light with a little shade from the harshest afternoon sun, and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried right out, keeping the plant dry and cool through winter. Like all Lophophora, it is extremely slow and intolerant of a wet, airless root run, so restraint with the watering can is the single most important habit.
Peyote is famously slow from seed, and many growers speed young plants along by grafting seedlings onto a vigorous columnar rootstock before growing them on. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
As for the parent species, propagation is chiefly by seed; mature plants may occasionally cluster and can be divided, and heads can be rooted as offsets where they form. Because decipiens is a look rather than a genetically fixed line, seedlings will not necessarily reproduce the parent's exact appearance.
Legal status
Lophophora williamsii — including named forms and synonyms such as decipiens — is a controlled plant in a number of countries because it contains mescaline. In the United States it is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning cultivation and possession are restricted by law (a longstanding religious exemption exists for the Native American Church). Like the whole cactus family, Lophophora is also listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. Regulations differ considerably from country to country, so growers should check the rules that apply where they live before acquiring or keeping plants.
This article is horticultural reference only and describes the plant, not any use of it.
See also
- Lophophora williamsii — the parent species
- Lophophora — the genus overview
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed