Identifying San Pedro Visually

[xctico]

How do you visually identify a San Pedro? WHat are the fisical
caracteristics that tell it appart from other cacti. There's a giant
cacti around my place that I think looks like a san pedro [from what
I've seen in pictures], but perhaps I'm not looking at the right stuff.


The cacti is at least 20feet tall, It starts with one big trunk and
from about 50 cm height it branches into about 12 HUGE branches [each
one of those branches could be a huge catus by itself!], On the big
branches there are no spines, but only the shape of where the spine
should grow, however, there are a couple of small young branches being
born and those do have spines. [small, kind of orange colored, in
groups of three or four - I think, forgot the number].

Ill try to get some pictures.

[moeBius]

all i can say is that even experienced botanists cannot distinguish the san predo from all the trichocereus types properly from fotos.

[xctico]

hmm. I guess I have a problem then. Cause I really don't want to hurt
that cactus for no reason, it's a bautifull specimen. It's gotta be at
least 60 years old, even older if it's not a San Pedro [sanpedros
happen to be the fastest growing cacti]. I guess I'll just wait around
till it flowers. Then I'll know for sure.

[Ninja Master]

pedro has 4-7 ribs, and bumps in over the spine pads. it has
short spines. the spine pads are white, and when wetted turn
brown/black. take a strate edged knife, wipe it with a towel and
70% isopropyl alcohol. let the knife dry out, and then quickly in
1 motion "ninja chop" the cutting off. let the cutting sit in a
dry area for 1 to 4 weeks. it will form a whiteish scab. plant
the cutting in bone dry soil and let it chill in it for at least a month bone dry.
it will root and then growth should be very quick. i guess the
100% sure fire way to ident a pedro is by its flowers but use what you
can to ident it to the fullest of your abilitys.
Edited by: Ninja Master

[jaguarangel]

All Trich. buds are wooley. Take a picture of the flower. It is used to
distinguish the species.

[jarka]

I was hoping that San Pedros can be identified easily but it seems I wasn't right. I was hoping to buy a few inch tall san pedro from a local nursery

[plantshaman]

sounds like this other very common cactus which looks much like pedro . To tell you the truth i accidently ate the wrong cactus when i was younger but luckily i didn't get sick . Once you have seen a few san pedro cactus up close you will easily be able to identify it.it is especialy easy to pick out the very common clone which they sell at your local home center, some other varieties may look alittle diffrent.

DO NOT LISTEN TO ME CUZ YOU COULD DIE !....... Swim says if the cactus looks like the right one then lick the cut you make ...if its bitter then its a good chance you have the right one or atleast an active tricho.... If you lick it and it just kind of taste like green beans thats probably not it or its not potent . Both will be gross and slimmy but pedro is almost like soap or something.

[jarka]

lol okay i'll take a cut from the cactus and eat it.. if it's bitter then i'll eat the whole thing.. nice nice :P

[Barebonejoe]

You want to waite until it is at the very least, a foot tall. Age effects the potency.