''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' (

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

including ''Trichocereus pachanoi'' and ''Echinopsis pachanoi'') is a fast-growing columnar

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

found in the

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

at in altitude. It is one of a number of kinds of cacti known as San Pedro cactus. It is native to

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

and

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

, but also found in

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

Bolivia Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

and

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

and cultivated in other parts of the world. Uses for it include traditional medicine and traditional veterinary medicine, and it is widely grown as an ornamental cactus. It has been used for healing and religious divination in the Andes Mountains region for over 3,000 years.

Description

''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' is native to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. Its stems are light to dark green, sometimes

glaucous ''Glaucous'' (, ) is used to describe the pale grey or bluish-green appearance of the surfaces of some plants, as well as in the names of birds, such as the glaucous gull (''Larus hyperboreus''), glaucous-winged gull (''Larus glaucescens''), ...

, with a diameter of and usually 6–8 ribs. The whitish

areole In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cactus, cacti out of which grow clusters of Thorns, spines, and prickles, spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cactus, cacti, and identify them as a family distinct fr ...

s may produce up to seven yellow to brown spines, each up to long although typically shorter in cultivated varieties, sometimes being mostly spineless. The number and length of the spines is a feature that distinguishes ''T. macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' from var. ''macrogonus'', which may have up to 20 spines with three or four longer and more robust central ones up to long. The areoles are spaced evenly along the ribs, approximately apart. ''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' is normally tall and has multiple branches, usually extending from the base but will emerge around broken branches. The tallest recorded specimen was tall. White flowers are produced at the end of the stems; they open at night and last for about two days. Large numbers can be produced by well established cacti and may open new flowers over a period of weeks. The flowers are large, around long with a diameter of up to and are highly fragrant. There are black hairs along the length of the thick base leading to the flower. Oblong dark green fruits are produced after fertilization, about across and long, eventually bursting open to reveal a white flesh filled with small seeds.

Taxonomy

''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' was first described as the species ''Trichocereus pachanoi'' by Britton and Rose in 1920. As a species, it has also been placed in the genera '' Cereus'' and ''

Echinopsis ''Echinopsis'' is a genus of Cactus, cacti native plant, native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. , there are about 20 accepted species, ranging from large and treelike types to small ...

''. It was reduced to a variety of ''

Trichocereus macrogonus ''Trichocereus macrogonus'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Echinopsis macrogonus'', is a species of cactus found in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Two varieties are accepted : var. ''macrogonus'' and Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi, var. ''pach ...

'' in 2012. It can be distinguished from ''T. macrogonus'' var. ''macrogonus'' by the smaller number of spines per areole, and usually being somewhat shorter with more slender stems.

Traditional uses

''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' is known by many names throughout

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

such as ''achuma,'' ''huachuma,'' ''wachuma,'' ''aguacolla,'' ''hahuacollay,'' ''lapituq'', ''tsuná'', ''San Pedro'' or ''giganton''. It has a long history of being used in Andean

traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of various societies, especially Indigenous groups, used for maintaining health and treatin ...

. Archaeological studies have found evidence of use going back two thousand years, to Moche culture,

Nazca culture The Nazca culture (also Nasca) was the archaeological culture that flourished from beside the arid, southern coast of Peru in the river valleys of the Nazca, Rio Grande de Nazca drainage and the Ica Valley.''The Nasca'' by Helaine Silverman an ...

, and

Chavín culture The Chavín culture was a Pre-Columbian era, pre-Columbian civilization, developed in the northern Andean highlands of Peru around 900 BCE, ending around 250 BCE. It extended its influence to other civilizations along the Peruvian coast.Burger, R ...

. Although

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

church authorities after the Spanish conquest attempted to suppress its use, this failed, as shown by the Christian element in the common name "San Pedro cactus" –

Saint Peter Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the Jewish Christian#Jerusalem ekklēsia, e ...

cactus. The name is attributed to the belief that just as St Peter holds the keys to heaven, the effects of the cactus allow users "to reach heaven while still on earth." In 2022, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture declared the traditional use of San Pedro cactus in northern Peru as

cultural heritage Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all heritages of past generations are "heritage"; rather, heritage is a product of selection by socie ...

Alkaloids

''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' contains a number of

alkaloids Alkaloids are a broad class of naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms i ...

(especially

cactus alkaloids Cactus alkaloids are alkaloids that occur in cactus. Structurally, they are tetrahydroisoquinolines and phenylethylamines. Occurrence and Representatives Cactus alkaloids are found in the cactus family, particularly in the genus '' Lophophora' ...

), including the well-studied chemical

mescaline Mescaline, also known as mescalin or mezcalin, and in chemical terms 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, is a natural product, naturally occurring psychedelic drug, psychedelic alkaloid, protoalkaloid of the substituted phenethylamine class, found ...

(from 0.053% up to 4.7% of dry cactus weight), and also 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine,

3-Methoxytyramine 3-Methoxytyramine (3-MT), also known as 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylamine, is a human trace amine and the major metabolite of the monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine. It is formed by the introduction of a methyl group to dopamine by the enzyme c ...

4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine 4-''O''-Desmethylmescaline, also known as 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylamine, 3,5-dimethoxytyramine, or DESMETHYL, is an alkaloid and drug of the substituted phenethylamine, phenethylamine and substituted mescaline analogue, scaline families ...

anhalonidine Anhalonidine, also known as ''N''-desmethylpellotine, a naturally occurring tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid which can be isolated from certain members of the cactus family, such as ''Lophophora''. It is structurally related to mescaline. Anhalonid ...

anhalinine Anhalinine, also known as ''O''-methylanhalamine or mescaline-CR, is a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid found in ''Lophophora williamsii'' (peyote) and other cacti. It is structurally related to mescaline and is a cyclized phenethylamine analogue ...

hordenine Hordenine is an alkaloid of the phenethylamine class that occurs naturally in a variety of plants, taking its name from one of the most common, barley (''Hordeum'' species). Chemically, hordenine is the ''N''-methyl derivative of ''N''-methyltyra ...

, and

tyramine Tyramine ( ) (also spelled tyramin), also known under several other names, is a naturally occurring trace amine derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine acts as a catecholamine releasing agent. Notably, it is unable to cross the bl ...

. Mescaline is a

psychedelic drug Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic halluc ...

and

entheogen Entheogens are psychoactive substances used in spiritual and religious contexts to induce altered states of consciousness. Hallucinogens such as the psilocybin found in so-called "magic" mushrooms have been used in sacred contexts since ancie ...

, which is also found in some species of the genus ''

'' (e.g. ''

Echinopsis lageniformis ''Echinopsis lageniformis'', synonyms including ''Echinopsis scopulicola'' and ''Trichocereus bridgesii'', is a cactus native to Bolivia. It is known as the Bolivian torch cactus. Among the indigenous populations of Bolivia, it is sometimes call ...

'', ''

Echinopsis scopulicola ''Echinopsis lageniformis'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonyms including ''Echinopsis scopulicola'' and ''Trichocereus bridgesii'', is a cactus native to Bolivia. It is known as the Bolivian torch cactus. Among the indigenous populations of Bolivia, ...

'' and '' Echinopsis tacaquirensis'') and the species ''

Lophophora williamsii The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains Psychoactive cactus, psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar Pupa#Cocoon, cocoon" ...

'' (

peyote The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar cocoon", from a root , "to glisten". p. ...

). Mescaline induces a psychedelic state comparable to those produced by

LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD (from German ; often referred to as acid or lucy), is a semisynthetic, hallucinogenic compound derived from ergot, known for its powerful psychological effects and serotonergic activity. I ...

and

psilocybin Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), is a natural product, naturally occurring tryptamine alkaloid and Investigational New Drug, investigational drug found in more than List of psilocybin mushroom ...

, but with unique characteristics. According to a research project in the Netherlands, ceremonial San Pedro use seems to be characterized by relatively strong spiritual experiences, and low incidence of challenging experiences. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the highest concentration of active substances is found in the layer of green

photosynthetic Photosynthesis ( ) is a Biological system, system of biological processes by which Photoautotrophism, photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical ener ...

tissue just beneath the skin. Mescaline is not evenly distributed within single specimens of San Pedro cactus.

Cultivation

''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' in

USDA The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commerc ...

hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely ...

s 8b to 10. The range of minimum temperatures in which it is known to grow is between -9.4 °C and 10 °C. Because it grows naturally in the

at high altitude and with high rainfall, it can withstand temperatures far below that of many other cacti. It requires fertile, free-draining soil. A good soil mix includes an inorganic lightweight substrate such as

pumice Pumice (), called pumicite in its powdered or dust form, is a volcanic rock that consists of extremely vesicular rough-textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals. It is typically light-colored. Scoria is another vesicula ...

perlite Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content, typically formed by the Hydrate, hydration of obsidian. It occurs naturally and has the unusual property of greatly expanding when heated sufficiently. It is an indu ...

. Plants grow up to 30 cm per year. They are susceptible to fungal diseases if over-watered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather when they are in their growth phase. They can be sunburned and display a yellowing chlorotic reaction to overexposure to sunlight. In winter, plants will

etiolate Etiolation is a process in flowering plants grown in partial or complete absence of light. It is characterized by long, weak stems; smaller leaves due to longer internodes; and a pale yellow color (chlorosis). The development of seedlings in t ...

, 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. In

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

, Mexico, they are commonly planted close together to make an impenetrable

cactus fence A cactus fence is a hedge or fence made of closely spaced cactus plants, sometimes with barbed wire or wood interwoven with the cacti. Purpose Such fences are inexpensive to develop in regions where cacti are common, and can provide an extre ...

Propagation from cuttings

Like many other plants, ''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' can be propagated from cuttings. The result is a genetic clone of the parent plant. It is therefore a popular method of propagating highly prized cultivars, sometimes by

grafting Grafting or graftage is a horticulture, horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion () while the lower part is called the roots ...

small cuttings onto fast-growing cultivars like the Predominant Cultivar (PC). Some names of cultivars that are highly prized by cactus collectors are Ogunbodede, Lapaz, Vilcabamba A, and Yowie. A cactus column can be also laid on its side on the ground (like a log), and eventually roots will sprout from it and grow into the ground. After time, sprouts will form and cactus columns will grow upward out of it along its length.

From seed

Like a lot of its relatives, ''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' is easily grown from seed, often by means of a so-called "Takeaway Tek". This term refers to the practice of the sowing of ''Trichocereus'' (and sometimes other types of cactus) seed into plastic containers, such as those many food takeaways are delivered in. This creates a semi-controlled humidity environment chamber for six months to a year, in which the seed may germinate and then grow relatively unbothered by environmental contamination. To accelerate the growth of

seedlings A seedling is a young sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle (embryonic root), the hypocotyl (embry ...

, they can be grafted on

Pereskiopsis ''Pereskiopsis'' is a genus of cactus (family (biology), family Cactaceae) in the subfamily Opuntioideae. Unlike typical cacti, it has persistent fleshy leaves. The genus name refers to its resemblance to the genus ''Pereskia''. Most species are ...

Legality

In most countries, it is legal to cultivate ''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi''. In countries where possession of mescaline and related compounds is illegal and highly penalized, cultivation for the purposes of consumption is most likely illegal and also highly penalized. This is the case in the United States, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Germany, and New Zealand, where it is currently legal to cultivate the San Pedro cactus for gardening and ornamental purposes, but not for consumption.

Gallery

File:Echinopsis pachanoi in bloom.jpg File:Echinopsis pachanoi in bloom nighttime.jpg File:Echinopsis pachanoi in bloom top view.jpg File:E pachanoi flower stalks.jpg File:Starr 070320-5797 Echinopsis pachanoi.jpg File:Starr 070320-5800 Echinopsis pachanoi.jpg File:Starr 070320-5796 Echinopsis pachanoi.jpg File:Starr 070320-5798 Echinopsis pachanoi.jpg File:Echinopsis-pachanoi-close-up.jpg File:Cactus in Huntington Library Botanical Garden, California.jpg File:Chavin-cactus-stone.jpg File:Pachanoi flower in bloom.jpg File:Sanpedroflower.jpg File:Seeds SanPedro (E. pachanoi).JPG, Seeds File:Echinopsis pachanoi jeune pousse.jpg, Three-week-old seedling File:San Pedro 5 months old 1.JPG, Five-month-old seedling File:Echinopsis pachanoi flowering at night in New Zealand.jpg File:Echinopsis pachanoi ripe fruit.jpg, The fruit after bursting open, revealing the seeds in a sweet flesh. File:E pachanoi ripe fruit.jpg, Ripe fruits File:San-pedro-timelapse.gif, Blooming habit

References

External links

Cactus Culture Volume 1: Trichocereus
by Patrick Noll
Collective Statement from the Curanderos and Curanderas of North Peru on the State of Conservation of the San Pedro Cactus, their Traditional Knowledge, and the Use of Wild San Pedro by Foreigners
by Curanderos and Curanderas of North Peru and Allies
San Pedro: Basic Info
– International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS)
Psychoactive Cacti vault
–

Erowid Erowid, also called Erowid Center, is a non-profit educational organization that provides information about psychoactive plants and chemicals. Erowid documents legal and illegal substances, including their intended and adverse effects. Inform ...

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q92450324, from2=Q14931625, from3=Q133426 macrogonus pachanoi 5-HT2A agonists Cacti of South America Entheogens Flora of Ecuador Flora of Peru Flora of the Andes Herbal and fungal hallucinogens Medicinal plants of South America Night-blooming plants Psychoactive cacti Psychedelic drugs Psychedelic phenethylamine carriers Plants described in 1920