False peyote facts for kids
Quick facts for kids False peyote |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Lophophora |
| Species: |
L. diffusa
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| Binomial name | |
| Lophophora diffusa (Croizat) Bravo
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| Synonyms | |
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Lophophora diffusa, also known as false peyote, is a type of cactus plant. It belongs to the Lophophora genus. This plant grows only in Mexico, mainly near Querétaro. It is called "false peyote" because it looks similar to the peyote cactus but contains very little or none of the compounds found in peyote. Instead, it mainly has a natural substance called pellotine. The name diffusa describes its flat, spread-out bumps instead of clear ribs.
Contents
What Does Lophophora diffusa Look Like?
These plants are usually yellow-green. They do not have the clear ribs and grooves that many cacti have. Instead, they have broad, flat areas called podaria (which are like raised bumps or sections on the plant's body). The small tufts of hair on the plant are often spread unevenly across these bumps. Its flowers are typically white or yellowish-white.
Where Does Lophophora diffusa Grow?
This cactus naturally lives in semi-desert areas. You can find it on slopes and along riverbeds, often growing in the shade of other shrubs or "nurse plants" that protect it.
Why Is This Cactus Vulnerable?
The Lophophora diffusa is considered a vulnerable plant. This means it is at risk of disappearing. There are a few reasons for this:
- Small Home Range: It grows in a very small area.
- Few Plants Left: There are fewer than 3,000 individual plants in the wild.
- Illegal Collecting: People sometimes collect this plant illegally. They might mistake it for peyote or want it as an ornamental plant for their gardens. This collecting harms its wild populations.
See also
In Spanish: Ariocarpus fissuratus para niños
