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Growers Notes... New Species or Not??

Lophophora Williamsii
var. Big Bend

Lophophora Williamsii var. Big Bend from the area of Big Bend National Park in southern Texas is soon to be my favourite variation I believe. The plant seems to be legendary from the studies I have encountered, but unfortunately there hasn't been any found in its natural habitat for many years. It is said that one of the oldest rangers still working the park has kept the location of the last remaining plants secret, but fortunately there has been some propagation from early pickers. Others that have grown plants from this area consider it the hardiest of the Lophophora varieties in that they can take the most extreme of weather conditions and temperatures right down to between minus ten and minus fifteen degrees Celsius for short periods of time. This could also possibly mean that plants from this area contain the highest percentage of the alkaloid mescaline but that is something yet to be discovered to the best of my knowledge.

The seven week old Lophophora Williamsii var. Big Bend seedlings shown in the close-up here below offer a wonderful view of the tiny spines Lophophora is known to have in its early stage of life. The largest pictured here measures four millimetres wide. Soon enough the tiny spines will be replaced with small tufts of wool as the plant grows to maturity. If you look close enough you can still see a few seed shells stuck to the side of these babies. I will have a few trays of these wonderful little guys ready for distribution in the upcoming months so keep an eye on my sales pages to secure your own legend.

Above: Lophophora Williamsii var. Big Bend, only seven weeks old