San Pedro cactus
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| Echinopsis pachanoi (Britton and Rose) Friedrich and Rowley |
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Trichocereus pachanoi Britton & Rose |
The San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi, syn. Trichocereus pachanoi), is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes of Peru and Ecuador. It is often confused with its close relative, the Peruvian Torch cactus.
The plant is light to dark green, sometimes glaucous, and having 4-8 (usually 5-7) ribs. Groups of 1-4 small, yellow to light brown, spines are located at the nodes which are spaced evenly (approximately 2 cm apart) along the ribs. San Pedro can grow up to 5 meters tall and have multiple branches, usually extending from the base.
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[edit] Chemistry
San Pedro contains a number of psychoactive alkaloids, including the well-studied chemical mescaline (0.11 - 2.3%), and also 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethylamine, 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, anhalonidine, anhalinine, hordenine, tyramine, and 3-methoxytyramine.
Mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is a psychedelic drug (or entheogen), which is also found in some other species of genus Echinopsis (i.e. Echinopsis lageniformis, Echinopsis peruviana, and Echinopsis scopulicola) and the species Lophophora williamsii (peyote).
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the highest concentrations of active substances are found in the layer of green photosynthetic tissue just beneath the skin.[citation needed]
There are various mescaline extraction techniques, simple (boiling in water 5 to 7 hours) and complex (such as an acid-base extraction), the latter technique yielding a material with a significantly higher concentration of mescaline - this is probably the most common source of (black market) mescaline.[citation needed]
[edit] Cultivation
San Pedro is very easy to grow in most areas. Because it grows naturally in the high altitude, high rainfall areas of the Andes, it can withstand temperatures far below that of many other cacti. In fact, its cultivation requirements are really more like 'normal' plants than most other cacti. San Pedro requires fertile, free-draining soil. They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. They can be sunburned and display a yellowing chlorotic reaction to overexposure to sunlight. In warm areas it is best to keep them out of direct sun in mid-summer.
In winter, plants will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light. This may be problematic if the etiolated zone is not sufficiently strong to support future growth as the cactus may break in strong winds. Some people also find it visually undesirable. If you wish to avoid etiolation when temperatures drop and growth rates slow, encourage it to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser from it over the winter.
The seeds are quite easy to germinate and grow. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough (but not too much) water, light, and nutrition. There are a number of commonly used methods that satisfy these requirements and the choice of a particular method depends mainly on the scale of the cultivation operation.
For soil, use coarse sharp sand (sieved river sand). Some people also find coir or peat, or mixtures, to be effective. The soil can be sterilised by cooking it in an oven on high for 1-2 hours. Sterilisation will be most effective if the sand is moist. If one is available, an autoclave would also be useful at this point. Some people find sterilisation to be unnecessary. This may depend on other factors. The soil is placed into trays (which can be sanitised with bleach beforehand if desired) and the seeds planted into it (when the soil has cooled). The seeds should be only just below the surface (ie two or three sand grains over them). The trays now need to be kept in a humid environment. This may be achieved by the use of ziplock bags, glass plates, or greenhouses, depending on scale. Seeds usually germinate within two weeks to a month, but sometimes come up after several months.
The seedlings stay in the humid environment for several months. During this time they must be continually checked for water and nutrient requirements, and fungal pathogens. Ensure the soil stays moist, but not overly wet. Nutrients can be provided with a liquid fertiliser at 1/8th strength whenever growth rate slows down. Fungi can be killed with a sulfur or copper-based fungicide. There have been some reports of seedlings responding negatively to these treatments so be very cautious with the amount you use. There is some evidence that garlic is also an effective fungicide.
If germinating your seeds in cold weather, a heat mat and fluorescent light can be used. These should be set on a timer to mimic normal diurnal temperature cycles for germination but can be left on permanently for faster growth once all the seeds have sprouted. One good method for growing cacti seedlings using this setup is to germinate them in late winter and have them ready to go outside by spring as temperatures and light levels are increasing.
[edit] Consumption
The San Pedro cactus is used as an entheogen in shamanic cultures of the Andes and more recently in the western world. The most common form of preparation is to cut the cactus into slices, boil it for over 7 hours and juice it into a green liquid preparation that is then drunk during the ceremony which usually happens at night.
[edit] Ethnomedical Uses
As well as a spiritual entheogen, Echniopsis pachanoi is used to treat nervous conditions, cardiac disease, and high blood pressure[citation needed].
[edit] Legality
In most countries it is legal to cultivate San Pedro, but in countries where possession of mescaline and related compounds is illegal, cultivation for the purposes of consumption may be illegal. This is the case in the USA, Australia, Canada,Germany, and the UK, where it is currently legal to cultivate San Pedro unless it is for the purposes of consumption.
[edit] References
- Smith, Michael S., Narcotic and Hallucinogenic Cacti of the New World (1998) http://entheogen.netfirms.com/articles/articles/Narcotic_Cacti.html.
- http://www.mescaline.com/sanpedro/
