Other Mescaline-Containing Cacti Supported by Sources
Which other cacti sources report as containing mescaline, why their names are confusing, how false peyote differs, and what is and is not known about risks and law.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Documented analytical data
Each group below is one study's measurement of the stated specimen or preparation. It is not a typical value for the species or product, varies between specimens, and says nothing about effects or safety. 6 values from 1 source.
Ogunbodede O, McCombs D, Trout K, Daley P, Terry M. New mescaline concentrations from 14 taxa/cultivars of Echinopsis... (6 values)
Source: Ogunbodede O, McCombs D, Trout K, Daley P, Terry M. New mescaline concentrations from 14 taxa/cultivars of Echinopsis spp. (Cactaceae) ("San Pedro") and their relevance to shamanic practice. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;131:356-362. PubMed 20637277, DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2010.07.021 (Table 2 read in the ful... Laboratory: Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas, USA (Dept. of Biology; with Cactus Conservation Institute and California Pacific Medical Center). Method: HPLC-UV (205 nm) after Soxhlet methanol and acid-base extraction; identity checked by GC-MS. Date: not reported in source.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. lageniformis (as named in source), cortical stem chlorenchyma; origin: cultivar; cutting | mescaline | 0.18 % of dry weight (dry weight of cortical stem chlorenchyma tissue (dried ~30 h at room temperature)) | (reported) | one sample per taxon/cultivar described; replicate number not stated. single specimen |
| E. lageniformis (monstrose) (as named in source), cortical stem chlorenchyma; origin: cultivar; grown from cutting | mescaline | 0.48 % of dry weight (dry weight of cortical stem chlorenchyma tissue (dried ~30 h at room temperature)) | (reported) | one sample per taxon/cultivar described; replicate number not stated. single specimen |
| E. puquiensis (as named in source), cortical stem chlorenchyma; origin: P.C. Hutchison 1256A: Nazca-Puquio Rd., Ayacucho Dept., Peru; cutting | mescaline | 0.13 % of dry weight (dry weight of cortical stem chlorenchyma tissue (dried ~30 h at room temperature)) | (reported) | one sample per taxon/cultivar described; replicate number not stated. single specimen |
| E. santaensis (as named in source), cortical stem chlorenchyma; origin: OST92701: Santa Valley, Ancash Dept., Peru; grown from seed | mescaline | 0.32 % of dry weight (dry weight of cortical stem chlorenchyma tissue (dried ~30 h at room temperature)) | (reported) | one sample per taxon/cultivar described; replicate number not stated. single specimen |
| E. scopulicola (as named in source), cortical stem chlorenchyma; origin: FR991: Tapecua, O'Connor Prov., Bolivia; grown from seed | mescaline | 0.85 % of dry weight (dry weight of cortical stem chlorenchyma tissue (dried ~30 h at room temperature)) | (reported) | one sample per taxon/cultivar described; replicate number not stated. single specimen |
| E. uyupampensis (as named in source), cortical stem chlorenchyma; origin: Backeberg (Monaco #3487); cutting | mescaline | 0.053 % of dry weight (dry weight of cortical stem chlorenchyma tissue (dried ~30 h at room temperature)) | (reported) | one sample per taxon/cultivar described; replicate number not stated. single specimen |
Safety first. Do not eat any wild or garden cactus or plant to see what happens. If someone has become severely ill after taking a plant, call 911 in the US or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222: poisoning: what to do first. This page does not identify plants or describe preparation.
Why this page exists
Mescaline is a widespread cactus alkaloid, but a chemistry review says it is present in high concentrations in only a few species: North American peyote and the South American "wachuma" cacti named Trichocereus pachanoi, T. peruvianus and T. bridgesii. [1] Peyote, San Pedro and Peruvian torch have their own pages: peyote, San Pedro cactus and Peruvian torch. This page covers what is left, only where sources support it.Cactus names that cause confusion
| Name in the literature | What GBIF Backbone shows (read 2026-10-22) |
|---|---|
| Echinopsis pachanoi | Synonym of Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi [2] |
| Echinopsis peruviana | Synonym of Trichocereus macrogonus [3] |
| Echinopsis bridgesii | Synonym of Lobivia bridgesii subsp. bridgesii [4] |
| Trichocereus bridgesii | Synonym of Echinopsis lageniformis, which GBIF accepts [4] |
The two entries for "bridgesii" lead to different accepted names, which shows how unsettled the naming is. Which plant a paper, a healer or a seller means by "bridgesii" cannot be told from the name alone. Other taxonomic databases could not be read this session: not verified.
Laboratory findings
A 2010 study measured mescaline in 14 taxa and cultivars of the Echinopsis subgenus Trichocereus and found that all contained mescaline, with concentrations from 0.053% to 4.7% by dry weight, measured in stem tissue by chromatography. [5] These were specific cloned plants in one laboratory, and the figures cannot be extended to other plants of the same name. This site gives no typical strength for any cactus.False peyote and related Lophophora
Lophophora diffusa is the species most often called "false peyote," although several unrelated cacti also carry that name. Its major alkaloid is pellotine, not mescaline. [6] A 2026 genome paper describes it as morphologically similar to peyote but with a distinct alkaloid profile, and notes that this creates challenges for law enforcement. [7] Do not infer a plant's contents from its look or name.Traditions
Specific peoples hold specific traditions with these plants; for example, Saraguro healers in southern Ecuador describe San Pedro within their healing system. [8] Spanish chroniclers of the 16th century considered these cacti "diabolic," leading to their prohibition, but use persisted. [1] See mescaline-cactus traditional contexts.Evidence and risks
Proper evidence not found for treatment benefit of any of these cacti in people. Reviews call mescaline research limited since the early 1970s. [9] Risks described for mescaline include hallucinations and psychosis-like states, and a stimulant-like body pattern. [10] Pregnancy data for psychedelics are limited. [11]Legal status
Not legal advice; laws change. The US federal list (21 CFR 1308.11, read 2026-10-22) names mescaline and peyote, not these cacti. [12] Other countries: not verified. See legal status by country.Frequently asked questions
Which cacti contain mescaline?
A review names peyote and three South American "wachuma" cacti as high in mescaline, and notes it occurs widely at lower levels. [1]
Is false peyote the same as peyote?
No. The species usually called false peyote has pellotine as its major alkaloid. [6]
Can I tell by the name how strong a cactus is?
No. Measured values varied widely between plants. [5]
Are these cacti legal?
Not verified beyond the US federal list, which does not name them. [12]
References
- Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Mescaline. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2018. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- GBIF Secretariat, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Echinopsis pachanoi (synonym) and Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi. Read 2026-10-22.
- GBIF Secretariat, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Echinopsis peruviana (synonym) and Trichocereus macrogonus. Read 2026-10-22.
- GBIF Secretariat, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Echinopsis bridgesii (synonym) and Lobivia bridgesii subsp. bridgesii. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ogunbodede O et al. New mescaline concentrations from 14 taxa/cultivars of Echinopsis spp. (Cactaceae) ("San Pedro") and their relevance to shamanic practice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010;131(2):356-62. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- The Alkaloids from Lophophora diffusa and Other "False Peyotes". J Nat Prod. 2021. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lophophora diffusa. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 2026. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Traditional medicine applied by the Saraguro yachakkuna: a preliminary approach to the use of sacred and psychoactive plant species in the southern region of Ecuador. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2014. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Vamvakopoulou IA et al. Mescaline: The forgotten psychedelic. Neuropharmacology. 2023;222:109294. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Dinis-Oliveira RJ et al. Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Aspects of Peyote and Mescaline: Clinical and Forensic Repercussions. Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2019;12(3):184-194. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. Read 2026-10-22.
- US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I. Read 2026-10-22.