Pelecyphora

Pelecyphora
Pelecyphora strobiliformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Pelecyphora C.Ehrenb.
Species
Pelecyphora aselliformis – peyotillo, peyote meco Pelecyphora strobiliformis – pinecone cactus

Pelecyphora is a genus of cacti, comprising 2 species. They originate from Mexico.

Pelecyphora is known for its medicinal properties and may have been utilized as a psychoactive in the same way as Lophophora williamsii. It is known as "Peyotillo".

Taxonomy

The two accepted species are P. aselliformis and P. strobiliformis.

Synonymy

At genus level

• The genus Encephalocarpus A.Berger has been brought into synonymy with Pelecyphora.

At species level

The following are synonyms of species now placed outside of Pelecyphora:

• Pelecyphora aselliformis var. pectinata (= Mammillaria pectinifera)
• Pelecyphora pectinata (= Mammillaria pectinifera)
• Pelecyphora pseudopectinata (= Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus)
• Pelecyphora valdeziana (= Turbinicarpus valdezianus)
• Pelecyphora plumosa (= Turbinicarpus valdezianus)
• Pelecyphora pulcherrima (= Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus)

Conservation status

Both P. aselliformis and P. strobiliformis are classified as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, however both species are contained in Appendix 1 of CITES species (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) as at June 2013.

References