Aztekium
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 A. ritteri
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The genus Aztekium contains only two species of small globulary cactus. Discovered in 1929 by F. Ritter, in Rayones, Nuevo León, Mexico, this genus was thought to be monotypic (with Aztekium ritteri) until a second species (Aztekium hintonii) was discovered by George S. Hinton, in Galeana, Nuevo León in 1991.
This genus is found only in Mexico and is native to the state of Nuevo León. Due to massive habitat destruction and overharvesting, this genus is now almost extinct in the wild. Its name is dedicated to the Aztec people, due to the resemblance between the plant's shape and certain Aztec sculptures.
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[edit] Description
Aztekium ritteri is a small plant (aroung 20 mm wide), with 9 to 11 ribs, which typically have transverse wrinkles. Its color varies from pale green to grayish-green. The center of the cactus contains a lot of white wool. Flowers are small (less than 10 mm wide), with white petals and pinkish sepals. The plants bear small pinkish berry-like fruits.
[edit] Cultivation
These species grow extremely slowly, taking around two years to attain 30 mm diameter. It usually multiply by seeds. These species are considered a sacred plant for some Mexican tribes.
[edit] Active constituents
- N-methyltyramine
- hordenine
- anhalidine
- mescaline
- N,N-3,4-dimethoxy-phenethylamine
- pellotine
- 3-methoxytyramine
