Peyote identification on the basis of differences in morphology, mescaline content, and trnL/trnF sequence between Lophophora williamsii and L. diffusa
Journal of Natural Medicines October 1, 2010 Masako Aragane, Yohei Sasaki, Jun’ichi Nakajima et al. 20 citations
The genus Lophophora includes two species: Lophophora williamsii (peyote) and L. diffusa. Contrary to earlier reports that L. williamsii contained mescaline and L. diffusa did not, some L. williamsii specimens lacked mescaline, showing that mescaline content alone cannot differentiate the species. The study examined morphology, mescaline content, and DNA sequences of the chloroplast trnL/trnF region. L. williamsii specimens fell into two groups: Group 1 had small epidermal protuberances, contained mescaline, and had an 881-base-pair (bp) DNA sequence (one exception at 877 bp); Group 2 had large protuberances, no mescaline, and a 893-bp sequence. L. diffusa had medium protuberances, no mescaline, and a 903-bp sequence. The PCR-RFLP method successfully distinguished the two species and differentiated the L. williamsii groups.