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Growers Notes... New Species or Not??

Lophophora Williamsii
var. El Oso

One of my latest experiments comes from the plains of El Oso, just a little ways north of Cuatrocienegas Coahuila Mexico labelled Lophophora Williamsii var. El Oso. Pictured here below is a close-up of a few of my seven week old seedlings. The largest of these measures approximately five millimetres in diameter. For germination purposes seedlings are simply pressed down on the medium and nothing is added overtop. Seedlings begin to hatch within twelve hours and continue for seven to fourteen days. Often seeds hatch while laying on their sides or even upside down which causes the root portion to begin searching for the ground. As can be seen below three of the seedlings had this challenge and eventually found their way to mother earth and within a few days will have pulled themselves into a more stable position for further growth.

Lophophora Williamsii from this area of El Oso are of the northern type. This variety of Lophophora is considered to be among the largest of the Williamsii family with solitary specimens measuring as large as 14.5 centimetre in diameter being found in recent years. Plants with heads of this size are practically unheard of in habitat so I am very curious as to what the future of my seedlings show. I will have a number of these available within a few months so keep your eye on my sales page for these little guys or enquire personally via email.

Above: Lophophora Williamsii var. El Oso, only seven weeks old