Definition

Noun: - A small, spineless, globe-shaped cactus native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the primary botanical source of the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline, which is concentrated in its disc-shaped protrusions known as "mescal buttons."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lophophora williamsii is a protected species in many areas due to overharvesting.
  • The ceremonial use of Lophophora williamsii has a long history among some Indigenous peoples of North America.
  • Botanists study the unique growth patterns of Lophophora williamsii in its arid habitat.

Advanced Usage

• "Peyote cactus": This is the common name for , often used in cultural, legal, and botanical contexts.
  • The ritual involved the preparation of the peyote cactus.
• In taxonomic or scientific writing, the binomial name is always used in italics.

Variants and Related Words

• Peyote (n): The most common common name for this cactus.
• Mescal button (n): The dried, disc-shaped top part of the cactus that contains mescaline.
• Lophophora (n): The genus to which this species belongs, which may include other, similar cacti.

Synonyms

• Peyote
• Peyote cactus
• Divine cactus (a ceremonial term)

Related Phrases

• Peyote ceremony: A religious or spiritual ritual that uses the cactus.
  • He traveled to participate in a traditional peyote ceremony.
• Peyote stitch: A beadwork technique named for the pattern's resemblance to the cactus's shape.
  • She created a bracelet using the peyote stitch.

Noun

1. a small spineless globe-shaped cactus; source of mescal buttons