
The plant is considered endangered due to over-harvesting and land development. Occasionally, the plant will produce pink flowers which become club-shaped, edible pink berries. Peyote plants often have tubercles, which give the ribs a spiral appearance. It is greenish blue with 5 to 13 ribs and fuzzy hairs. The upper part of the cactus grows about an inch (2.5 cm.) out of the ground in a rounded habit with a diameter of less than 2 inches (5 cm.). The bulk of the plant is underground where thick, wide roots form, looking much like parsnips or carrots. In any event, growing peyote is illegal unless you are a member of the church and have filed the proper paperwork. Peyote cultivation is a time-consuming process, as the plant can take up to 13 years to mature. It has numerous psychoactive chemicals, chiefly mescaline, which is used in religious ceremonies to elevate awareness and cause a mental and physical high. Peyote cactus is a small plant native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and northeastern Mexico. There are, however, peyote plant look-a-likes you can grow at home that will satisfy your urge to cultivate this cute little cactus without breaking the law. While growing peyote is not allowed unless you are a member of the NAC, it is a fascinating plant with attributes worth learning about. officials but First Nations people use it as a sacrament and pathway to religious and personal enlightenment. The plant is considered poisonous by U.S. In the United States the plant is illegal to cultivate or eat unless you are a member of the Native American Church. Peyote ( Lophophora williamsii) is a spineless cactus with a rich history of ritual use in the First Nation culture.
