All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Lophophora diffusa v. fricii
(Syn: Lophophora fricii)

Lophophora fricii
Again a very beautiful variety with large striking pink blooms from the notorious Lophophora family.

Description: Globular spineless cactus with large tap root.
Stem: Pale grey-green to yellow-green, usually lacking well defined ribs and furrows.
Ribs: 5 to 13 the podaria are rarely elevated, but are broad and flat.
Areoles: With tufts of hairs that usually spread unequally on the prominent podaria.
Flowers: Commonly pale to dark pink ( or rarely pinkish white), reaching over 4 centimeter in diameter.

In habitat Lophophora fricii is a very mutable species. It´s hardly to find two similar plants at one location. Particularly in terms of the bloom they are different at the same locations.

 

Propagation: Seeds. Seeds should be sown in spring in sterile cacti mix. Cover with a humidity dome or plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot in 50-75% shade. Fluctuating temperatures are best (ie. high day temperature and low night temperature) as they simulate the desert environment. Keep constantly humid as seedlings cannot survive if to dry. Seedlings will emerge in 7-21 days and can be grown in the same environment for a number of months. Mulch with thin layer of small quartz gravel (1-2mm diameter) this helps them stay upright, hinders algae growth and regulates moisture. As they get older the watering can become less frequent. Potting up can be done when 5-10mm in diameter.

Cultivation: Slow growing. Because of the tap root they are very rot prone, so use highly gritty compost with much drainage. Requires half shade to part sun. Watering: watering should be rather infrequent  to keep the plant compact and avoid it becoming excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance. Watering it properly is often difficult, because this plant tends to crack open or rot if over-watered. The fact that the plant retracts into the soil and assumes a grey-green colouring between watering, is perfectly natural, and doesn’t cause any damage.
Overwatering: Keep completely dry and cool in winter (An unheated greenhouse would be perfect) or when night temperatures remain below 10° C,  it can survive low temperatures (appr. -7°C)  for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.

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Scientific Name: Lophophora diffusa ssp. fricii (Haberm.) J.J. Halda, Cactaceae etc., cf. Repert. Pl. Succ. (I. O. S.), 7 (2): 61; 48: 10 (1997 publ. 1998): 1997

Common Name include: False peyote.

Origin:  This species grows around the lagoon near Viesca in the state of Coahuila, Northern Mexico.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Etymology: Designated after A.V. Fric 1882-1944 a czech collector of cacti.

• Lophophora fricii Habermann
  Kaktusy,: 123; cf. Habermann in Kaktusy, 11 (1): 5 (1975). 1974
• Lophophora lutea f. fricii Haberm 
• Lophophora williamsii v. fricii (Haberm.) R. Grym,
  Rod Lophophora: cf. Repert. Pl. Succ. (I. O. S.), 56; 48: 10 (1997 publ. 1998): 1997
• Peyotl zacatensis var.fricii

Lophophora fricii (San Pedro)
Intensive pink pink flowers
 
Lophophora fricii (Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico )

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Lophophora diffusa.

• L. diffusa
• L. diffusa ssp. koehresii
• L. diffusa ssp. kubesai
• L. diffusa var. fricii

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.