View source for Peruvian Torch cactus

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Peruvian Torch cactus
| image = KK242 Vs Standard Peruvian Torch.jpg
| image_caption = Two distinct forms of Peruvian Torch cactus
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
| familia = [[Cactaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Trichocereus]]''
| species = '''''T. peruvianus'''''
| binomial = ''Trichocereus peruvianus''<ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=TRPE2&mode=symbol USDA]</ref>
| binomial_authority = ([[Nathaniel Lord Britton|Britton]] & Rose) 
| synonyms = ''Echinopsis peruviana''
}}

'''Peruvian Torch cactus''' (''Trichocereus peruvianus'') is a fast-growing columnar [[cactus]] native to the western slope of the [[Andes]] in [[Peru]]. It is also sometimes known as '''Peruvian Fence Post'''.

The plant is bluish-green in colour, with frosted stems, and 6-8 broadly rounded ribs; it has large, white flowers. It can grow up to 7 meters tall, with stems up to 20 cm in diameter; it is fully erect to begin with, but later possibly arching over, or even becoming prostrate. Groups of 6-8 honey-coloured to brown rigid spines, up to 4 cm in length, with most about 1 cm, are located at the nodes, which are evenly spaced along the ribs, up to approximately 2.5 cm apart. 

A short-spined variant which is nearly identical in appearance to its relative, the [[San Pedro cactus]], is known. It is therefore possible that many misidentified plants are being sold (both as Peruvian Torch and as San Pedro), but since local variations as well as hybrids do exist (both cultivated and natural), this will obviously make proper identification difficult.

===Chemistry===
It contains a number of [[psychoactive]] [[alkaloids]], in particular the well-studied chemical [[mescaline]], which it contains at higher levels than those of the [[San Pedro cactus]] (although not as high as [[peyote]], as sometimes is stated wrongly).



==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}
===General references===
* James D. Mauseth, Roberto Kiesling, ''Cactus and Succulent Journal (US)'' '''70''' (1): 32-39
* Michael S. Smith, ''The Narcotic and Hallucinogenic Cacti of the New World''
* [http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=245 Trichocereus peruvianus - Peruvian torch cactus]
* [http://www.plot55.com/growing/trichocereus.html Growing Trichocereus species (Plot55.com)]

[[Category:Cacti]]
[[Category:Entheogens]]
[[Category:Flora of Peru]]
[[Category:Herbal and fungal hallucinogens]]
[[Category:Psychedelic phenethylamine carriers]]