Stem are very pale grey

Scientific name:  Lophophora williamsii var. texana Krzgr., 1961

Origin:  Grows in an area that stretches from from the Chihuahuan Desert to the South Texas Plains, on either side of the middle and lower Rio Grande River, southward to the Mexican state of San Luís Potosí. Extensive stands of peyote occur on the low, rocky hills in Starr, Zapata, Webb, and Jim Hogg counties of southern Texas.

Habitat:  Grows isolated or in groups usually in calcareous deserts, on rocky slopes, or in dried river beds.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Names include: Peyote, mescal buttons, muscal buttons, pellote.

Synonyms:

• Lophophora williamsii (Lem. ex ex Salm-Dyck.) Coulter
  in Contrib. U.S. Nat. Herb. 3 (1894) 131.
• Anhalonium williamsii Eng., 1854
• Ariocarpus williamsii (Lem.) Voss., 1872
• Anhalonium williamsii (Lem.) Rümpler, 1886
• Lophophora texana Fric ex Roeder, 1935
• Lophophora williamsii var. texensis
• Lophophora texenis

Cultivation: Slow growing. Because of the tap root they are very rot prone, so use highly gritty compost with much drainage. Requires half shade to part sun. Watering: waterings should be rather infrequent  to keep the plant compact and not to become excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance, watering it properly is often difficult because this plant tends to crack open or rot if over-watered. The fact that the plant retracts into the soil and assume a grey-green colouring between watering, is perfectly natural and doesn’t cause any damage.
Overwatering: Keep completely dry and cool in winter (An unheated greenhouse would be perfect) or when night temperatures remain below 10° C,  it can survive low temperatures (appr. -7°C)  for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.

Description: Lophophora Williamsii var. texensis or texana is the phenotype from the Texas area (USA), this local form has very grey pruinose stems with numerous flat ribs (up to 14 in adult specimens). In cultivation forms beautiful long tuft of wool from the areoles.

Propagation: Easy to propagate from seed.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Lophophora williamsii  complex (This Taxon has  several controversial varieties and subspecies and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):

• L. williamsii
• L. williamsii forma caespitosa
• L. williamsii forma cristata
• L. williamsii cv. KIKKO
• L. williamsii var. texensis
• L. jourdaniana ( L. williansii v. jourdaniana ? )