Difference between cereus and trichocereus Peruvianus

[Alfa]

One major issue with defining potency difference between these species is determening what peruvian torch really is. I have found many different species for sale under the name trichocereus peruvianus. I have also read many contradictory explanations on how peruvianus looks.
There is a mix up between cereus and trichocereus. They are not the same.
Christian Rätsch has a photo of peruvian torch with thin blades, in his famous book 'Encyclopedia of psychoactive plants'.
Other sources however state that peruvian torch has thick blades and cereus has thin blades. Both kinds are being sold as peruvian torch. Ethno suppliers often do not know what's what. Even the most renowned cacti suppliers have completely different opinions on this.
Some sources mention that the only difference between these species is the length of the needles, while other sources say this is caused by the amount of sun the cacti get.
Anyone got more info on this?

[Cyano]

Peruvianus is bluish green, Pachanoi green.

[Alfa]

Yes, that defines the difference between San Pedro & Peruvian Torch. But does not determine the difference between cereus peruvianus & trichocereus peruvianus.

[Thirdedge]

I was under the impression that the Cereus species was non-psychoactive and contained chemicals that could lead to damage to certain parts of the brain.

The cereus is the thin blade type which and would be a prick to harvest.

The peruvians is generally similar looking but more spikey than the san pedro, hence more difficult to harvest but providing a higher concentration of alkaloids.

[snapper]

Right,. Cereus is the more common horticultural variety. When cut into sections, trichocereus are rounder and look more like a sawblade, which cereus are flatter segments which look like a starfish with long arms when cut into sections. Cereus contains no appreciable mescaline or any other interesting alkaloids. They both have long spines.

Snapper

[genaro]

"Cereus contains no appreciable mescaline or any other interesting alkaloids"

If so then I guess that ethnobotranicals supplier cannot be selling cereus (as they would definately know it is cereus cause it's inactive.......unless they are scammers they wouldn't "confuse" it with trichocereus sp.)
Don't you think so?

[Alfa]

If the cereus is inactive the ethnobotanical suppliers would get a lot of complaints. But there is a good cause for confusion:

From Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: "The peruvian torch (peruvianus trichocereus has deep ribs. It often has four ribs, which symbolise the four directions of air." (next to picture of peruvianus with deep ribs)

[Thirdedge]

I am yet to see any ethnobotanical suppliers selling the Cereus species, however, it would make sence to sell some non - psychoactive species so one could claim the psychoactive species were intended as ornamentals only. They could of course be making a mistake in identity.

Anyone tried consuming the Cereus species?

[Alfa]

Here is the reaction of K. Trout on this thread:

These are completely different plants.
Trichs have broadly rounded low ribs and Cereus have deeply divided and narrow ribs.
Cereus species (all of them) do not have a hairy flower tube, ovary or fruit. Trichocereus does as it is that feature which nicely differentiates the two genera. Its really simple.
There is really not much of anything to discuss about this though. Its just something that some people are confused about due to either being given inaccurate information or making careless assumptions.
People simply need to look at pictures or examples and the differences will be clear.
See several forms of T. peruvianus linked to under its entry at
http://www.troutsnotes.com/sc/Trichocereus_List_0.htm

Compare to Cereus peruvianus as pictured at:
http://www.plant-care.com/cereus-peruvianus.html
http://www.cactusmuseum.com/photo.asp?PlantID=8&Genus=
or many other site.
Ratsch's published errors on this have perhaps contributed to the problem but he has corrected much of that in his English version of his Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants (all but the deeply divided ribs comment)

Later

KT

[genaro]

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plan...eruvianus.html

note that ribs are much deeper than the ones of trichocereus species and also more "parrallel faced" while trichocereus species ribs are more "triangular" or "trapezoidal"

cereus peruvianus ribs: O==
trichocereus spp ribs: O>


There could be confusion here but only if the guy collecting the cactus is not used to the sight of trichocereus species, I guess he wouldn't make any confusion as long as he knoes his stuff

[Alfa]

I merged threads. The above explains it all.

[Alfa]

Somehow my post came before yours. I hope this thread explains it for you. Otherwise let me know.

[knot]

This non-san Pedro does have a "hairy tube" flower so it's still really confusing but the ribs are narrow. At any rate, knot was not intending on consumption because this plant was purchased by his father months before his death. Knot would not destroy it even if it were san pedro./

[knot]

Cereus peruvianus

This cactus has white blooms that open at night.

This is incorrect information for the one knot has. This cacti has a white flower that stays open for days. only one flower as this cacti is not taken care of. It's rarely watered and never feed.