Sunday, February 26, 2012

Trichocereus Pachanoi 'El Pedro' ~*

Trichocereus Pachanoi, the San Pedro Cactus, is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes Mountains of Peru between 2000–3000 m in altitude. It is also found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador, and it is 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 3000 years. Currently it is believed to help with nervous conditions, joint problems, drug addictions, cardiac disease, and high blood pressure. Trichocereus Pachanoi contains hordenine and it has been shown that hordenine, N,N-Dimethyl-hydroxyphenylethylamine, exhibits an inhibitory action against at least 18 strains of penicillin resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. The plant is light to dark green, sometimes glaucous, and has 4–9 (usually 5–7) ribs. Groups of 1–4 small, yellow to light brown spines are located at nodes which are spaced evenly, approximately 2 cm apart, along the ribs. Trichocereus Pachanoi can grow up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall and have multiple branches, usually extending from the base. The tallest recorded specimen was 12.2 metres (40 ft) tall. The cactus blossoms at night with flowers up to 20 centimetres (8 in) in diameter, and it bears red, tasty fruit. This Pachanoi is very similar to the Predominant Cultivar form, with some slight differences. It has smaller spines and just has a slightly different look to it, like different plants from the same seed batch, or collection area. I got mine via Herbalistics.com.au. I assume the name is because of the smaller spines. Is a nice little pach, here's some pics ~*



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