Trichocereus Peruvianus

- B76, BR63 /Agurell 69.2 /Pardanani 71
Body: Bluish-green, frosted stems, erect at first then arching over or even
prostrate to 23' (7m.) long. Stems to 8" (20cm.) diameter.

Ribs: 6-8, broadly rounded with a "V"-shaped notch over the areole.

Areoles/Spines: Areoles large, brown-felted to 1" (2.5cm.) apart. Spines brown
from the first or honey-colored below, darker above; rigid and stout, not at all swollen at base. Six to 8 radial spines to .4" (1cm.), usually 1 center spine to 1.6" (4cm.).

Flowers/Fruit: Large, white flowers.

Distribution: Around 7000' (2100m.) near Matucana, Peru, on the western
slope of the Andes .

Subspecies: Three varieties seem to be available commercially although they
don't seem to be "official" subspecies. The comments below are my personal
observations/opinions based on young, seed grown plants. v. "Ancash": Similar
to a "KK242" but the "V"-notches are much subtler, often not visible at all.
Presumably from the Ancash region northwest of Matucana. v. "Blue": Lighter in
color ("bluer"), areoles seem further apart (i.e., where in a certain distance a "KK242" has 4 areoles, the "Blue" has only 3). v. KK242: Seems to fit the
standard T. peruvianus ID.

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Trichocereus peruvianus: Chemical studies indicate that T. peruvianus contains mescaline levels nearly as high as lowest tested L. williamsii, but alkaloid levels can be quite variable from cactus to cactus. A single known study of the KK242 variety found the dried plant to contain .82 mescaline, nearly as high as L. williamsii's range of 0.9 to 6.3 using dried material for analysis. Interestingly, dried T. pachanoi has also tested as high as 2.0, twice as high as the .82 recovery of T. peruvianus. K. Trout mentions this species
as being a sacred cacti in Peru, but fails to give supporting ethnological data. Considering the relatively recent discovery of the native use of T. brigesii this should not be hard to believe. Though considered by most to be a species unto itself there still appears to be a lot of confusion regarding its proper identification. A few variations are known to be available domestically in the USA, including the KK242 variety from areas surrounding
Matucana, Peru, and the short spined variety from Huancabamba, Peru, but many more local variations appear to exist. The short spined variation is nearly identical to T. pachanoi in its apperance; a mostrose form of it can also sometimes be found. It is quite
possible that many misidentified plants are being sold as T. peruvianus, but it must also be noted that locality variations and hybrids do exist in cultivation and in nature, and that this may effect proper identification.
"Peruvian Torch", "Prickly Pear" Tyramine

3-Methoxytyramine Mescaline 2-chloromescaline 3-4-dimethoxyphenethylamine
4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine

All information here, is fromThe Narcotic and Hallucinogenic Cacti of the New World
By Michael S. Smith

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http://www.erowid.org/plants/cacti/cacti_g..._trichoce.shtml

Also known as the Peruvian fence post. This cactus is fast becoming popular, as it is almost as fast growing as San Pedro, but with a higher content of mescaline. Very fast growing, huge when mature, columnar. Is readily available in Peru but is rare as an ornamental in the U. S. This species is also known to grow on ledges and let its heavy arms, that may be up to 5 meters long, dangle over the edge of cliffs.

Some studies reported up to 10% mescaline content by dry weight but a more reasonable and believable figure is in the 1 - 3% range. It contains only a few other psychoactive alkaloids, mainly tryptamines in much lower proportions.
Contains: mescaline (0.82%), 2-chloromescaline (.02%), tyramine (.009%), 3-methoxytyramine (.01%), 3-4-dimethoxyphenethylamine, 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (.004%).

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Body: Described in the Cactus and Succulent Journal (US), Vol. 70, No.
1:32-39, James D. Mauseth & Roberto Kiesling.