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Lophophora species identification guide
Peyote can be hard to identify at times. Although there are only 4 confirmed Lophophora species (Lophophora diffusa, Lophophora fricii, Lophophora koehresii & Lophophora williamsii), there can be some confusion with the proper identification. Also the added confusion of varieties or possible sub-species.
Page Contents
1. Lophophora species Dichotomous Key
2. Lophophora species Photo Identification
3. Lophophora side by side photo comparison
4. Lophophora side by side written comparison
1. Lophophora species Dichotomous Key
See just this key, click to view & download.
2. Lophophora species Identification
We do not, at least currently, maintain Lophophora 'Jourdaniana' as a distinct species though we cannot deny that it is certainly closely related to Lophophora and there is no dispute that it is uniquely separate from any other Lophophora species due to its morphology and reproduction. Therefore, we maintain the cultivar status many researchers use for this and we do not assign it to any given species due to its obvious distinctiveness.
Lophophora diffusa
Growth Habit: Clumping, may offset profusely, or just a little. Spherical in shape, up to 20-25cm diameter.
Ribs: Wavy & variable, though generally decently defined, rib count: 5, 8, 13, 21 (usually).
Skin: Green to grey-green.
Areole: Spineless, from intensely wooly to almost bare, often easily removed.
Flower: White, petals pointed at tip.
Reproduction: Self-Sterile.
Fruit: White.
Seeds: 10-50 per fruit.
Differentiating Characteristics from other Lophophora species
Lophophora fricii: L. diffusa has white petals, L. fricii has pink (with the exception of L. fricii var albiflora), same for fruit colour. Seed morphology different, cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora 'Jourdaniana': L. diffusa has white filaments, L. 'Jourdaniana' has pink. L. diffusa is spineless in all but seedling stages of life, L. 'Jourdaniana consistently retains spines into maturity. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora koehresii: L. koehresii is often green in skin colour, where as L. diffusa is more often grey-green in maturity. L. koehresii is usually singular and remaining small, L. diffusa tend to offset readily and can attain a very large size relative to L. koehresii. Both flowers may be similar in colour and shape so cannot be too useful. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora williamsii: L. diffusa is never self-fertile, while L. williamsii usually is. L. williamsii is almost always pink in flower petal colour and often rounded at the tips, L. diffusa is white and usually pointed. Areole spacing on L. williamsii is far shorter (almost half) that of L. diffusa. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Plant |
Flower |
Fruit |
Areole |
Seeds |
Other |
L. diffusa seed grown. |
[Pics: 1 ] L. diffusa white flower. |
L. diffusa white fruit. |
L. diffusa areole. |
L. diffusa seed. |
L. diffusa 'Big breast' |
Lophophora fricii
Growth Habit: may or may not offset when younger. Some offset quite a lot, others stay singular until larger. Single stems up to 20cm diameter.
Ribs: Variabl from straight to wavy to irregular, rib count: 5, 8, 13, 21 (usually).
Skin: Grey-green.
Areole: Spineless, wooly to almost bare areoles, generally easily removed.
Flower: Usually a medium to dark shade of pink, petals are longer and pointed (similar in shape to L. diffusa & L. koehresii). L. fricii var albiflroa has white petals.
Reproduction: Self-sterile.
Fruit: Dark pink to pink.
Seeds: Up to 60 per fruit, usually 20-40 with bigger plants.
Differentiating Characteristics from other Lophophora species
Lophophora diffusa: L. diffusa has white petals, L. fricii has pink (with the exception of L. fricii var albiflora), same for fruit colour. Areole spacing on L. fricii is far shorter, almost half that of L. diffusa. Seed morphology different, cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora 'Jourdaniana': L. fricii is spineless in all but seedling stages of life, L. 'Jourdaniana consistently retains spines into maturity. L. 'Jourdaniana' has pink filaments and L. fricii has white. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora koehresii: L. koehresii is often green in skin colour, where as L. fricii is more often grey-green in maturity. L. koehresii is usually singular and remaining small, L. fricii tend to offset readily when mature and can attain a very large stem diameter relative to L. koehresii. Both flowers may be similar in colour and shape though L. fricii is more often a darker pink. Seed morphology is different. They can in fact cross pollinate thus making their relationship more interesting. Read more about it here: L. koehresii x L. fricii hybrids.
Lophophora williamsii: L. fricii is never self-fertile, while L. williamsii usually is. L. williamsii is almost always pink in flower petal colour and often rounded at the tips, L. fricii can often have same colour flowers as L. williamsii though L. fricii petals are almost always pointed at the tip. Seed morphology is different. They probably cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Plant |
Flower |
Fruit |
Areole |
Seeds |
Other |
L. fricii seed grown. |
L. fricii pink flowers. |
[Pics: 1 ] L. fricii fruit. |
L. fricii areole. |
L. fricii seed. |
L. fricii 'Big tuberciles' |
Lophophora 'Jourdaniana'
Growth Habit: often a clumping style of growth from early on.
Ribs: Wavy and irregular, numbers in 5, 8 or 13.
Skin: A green colour, green-grey when older.
Areole: Lophophora jourdaniana has small spines, one of its defining attributes. Areoles may be very wooly, or bare.
Flower: Dark pink-red/purple petals, filaments also a red-purple colour (another defining characteristic).
Reproduction: Self-sterile.
Fruit: Dark pink.
Seeds: Less frequent to set seed than other Lophophora, but fruit is pink and has up to 45 seeds that we have witenessed.
Differentiating Characteristics from other Lophophora species
Lophophora diffusa: L. diffusa has white flowers adn filaments and L. 'Jourdaniana' has pink flowers and filaments. Rib pattern can be similar much of the time, as can skin color adn wool. L. 'Jourdaniana' often has small spines into maturity, while L. diffusa does not. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross polliante (are not compatible).
Lophophora fricii: Flower petals of both species can quite often appear similar, though L. fricii always has white filaments and L. 'Jourdaniana' has pink. L. fricii won't retain spines into maturity. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora koehresii: L. koehresii tends to grow amore solitary life while L. 'Jourdaniana' is almost always at least slightly caespitose. L. koehresii filametns are white and L. 'Jourdaniana' are pink. L. keohresii flowers are almost always a lighter pink than that of L. 'Jourdaniana'. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora williamsii: L. williamsii flowers are sometimes alighter pink and the filaments are white instead of pink as with L. 'Jourdaniana'. L. willaismii is usually self-fertile, while L. 'Jourdaniana' is not. L. williamsii does not have spines in maturity, though some L. williamsii var. caespitosa may have spines on small new stems. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Plant |
Flower |
Fruit |
Areole |
Seeds |
Other |
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L. jourdaniana seed |
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Lophophora koehresii
Growth Habit: Generally singular, sometimes growing side shoots when larger, this is also a very small Lophophora often staying under 15cm unless quite old.
Ribs: Random, many times making an almost checkered, offset, pattern. Rarely in a straight, well defined manner. Rib count: 5, 8, 13, 21.
Skin: A nice shade of medium green.
Areole: Spineless, wooly to bare.
Flower: Light pink, sometimes a darker pink stripe down a white/light petal, flowers year round (heavily) in warm bright conditions.
Reproduction: self-sterile.
Fruit: White to pink.
Seeds: Up tp 50 seeds have been seen.
Differentiating Characteristics from other Lophophora species
Lophophora diffusa: L. koehresii is often a more green instead of grey-green color when large. Areoles are often far tighter in spacing than in L. diffusa. L. diffusa ribs are more defined whereas L. koehresii can sometimes be indistinguishakle. Flowers are similar though L. koehresii is often more pink and rarely actually white. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora fricii: Flower color in L. fricii is a darker pink than L. koehresii. Growth habit is more caespitose in L. fricii usually. Skin color on L. fricii is more grey-green than L. koehresii. Seed morphology is different. They can in fact cross pollinate thus making their relationship more interesting. Read more about it here: L. koehresii x L. fricii hybrids.
Lophophora 'Jourdaniana': L. 'Jourdaniana' has more defined ribs and great areole spacing than L. koehresii. Filaments are pink with L. 'Jourdaniana' rather than white with L. koehresii. L. 'Jourdaniana' is more caespitose in habit than the often more solitary L. koehresii. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora williamsii: Both may be solitary when old. L. koehresii is far more able to shrink in a dehydrate in times of drought, L. williamsii staying more firm and not able to retract itself into the ground. L. williamsii is self-fertile while L. koehresii is not. Flowers of L. williamsii may be rounded while L. koehresii are longer and pointed. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Plant |
Flower |
Fruit |
Areole |
Seeds |
Other |
[Pics: 1 ] L. koehresii plant |
[Pics: 1 ] L. koehresii flowering |
[Pics: 1 ] L. koehresii fruit |
L. koehresii areole |
L. koehresii seed |
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Lophophora williamsii
Growth Habit: Often singular when small (except for L. williamsii var. caespitosa), some may offset a little when young, round and flat growth habit reaching a maximum stem diameter of 20cm (rare, and if it happens is a very old plant).
Ribs: Straight or spiral pattern of defined pattern, ribs of 5, 8 or 13 (usually).
Skin: Grey-green.
Areole: Spineless, very wooly to bare.
Flower: Light pink, petals short and rounded at tips.
Reproduction: Self-fertile (some populations do not appear to be self-fertile).
Fruit: Pink, quick to develop.
Seeds: Fewer seeds than most Lophophora, 1-20 (usually 5-15).
Differentiating Characteristics from other Lophophora species
Lophophora diffusa: Areole spacing of L. diffusa is far greater than that of L. williamsii, perhaps up to double. L. diffusa flowers are white, L. williamsii are pink. L. williamsii are usually self-fertile while L. diffusa is not. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora fricii: L. williamsii and L. fricii are, to me, the most difficult to describe how to differentiate. L. fricii rib form is usually very variable, far more so than L. williamsii but cannot be used as a defining characteristic. Areole spacing, skin color, growth habit can all be similar. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora 'Jourdaniana': L. williamsii has white filaments and no spines, L. 'Jourdaniana' has pink filaments and small spines. L. jourdaniana usualyl has more wavy, uneven rib form. L. 'Jourdaniana' is self-sterile while most L. williamsii are self-fertile. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Lophophora koehresii: Skin color on L. koehresii is often more green instead of grey-green. L. koehresii is self-sterile, L. williasmii mostly self-fertile. L. williamsii can grow far larger. Flowers of L. koehresii are longer adn pointed at the tip, though some populations of L. williamsii can also be as such. Seed morphology is different. They cannot cross pollinate (not compatible).
Plant |
Flower |
Fruit |
Areole |
Seeds |
Other |
L. williamsii seed grown. |
L. williamsii flowering. |
L. williamsii with fruit. |
L. williamsii areole |
L. williamsii seed |
L. williamsii 'cristate' |
3. Lophophora side by side photo comparison
Variety ---------> Plant part (down) |
L. diffusa |
L. fricii |
L. Jourdaniana |
L. koehresii |
L. williamsii |
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Flower |
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Fruit |
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Seeds |
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Grafts |
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4. Lophophora Species side by side written comparison
Here is a comparison of the 4 species of Lophophora as well as an additional "CV", Lophohpora jourdaniana.
Variety ------------> Plant part \/ |
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Related Pages [Breeding Lophophora]
Last updated: October 18, 2011
