San Pedro

Echinopsis pachanoi · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (2 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

San Pedro, scientifically known as Echinopsis pachanoi, is a columnar cactus native to the Andes mountains. Renowned for its ritualistic significance in South American shamanism, it contains mescaline. This succulent is widely studied for its psychoactive properties and its profound role in traditional spiritual healing and ceremonial practices.

Family
Cactaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Not available
Common names
Not available
Scientific synonyms
Trichocereus Macrogonus Subsp. Pachanoi · Trichocereus Macrogonus Subsp. Sanpedro · 8 more

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Echinopsis pachanoi

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Trichocereus pachanoi
  • Sanpedrillo
  • Huacuma
  • Huando
  • Huando Hermosa
  • cactus de san pedro
  • olalá
  • achuma
  • agua-collo
  • Cactus reales
  • cardo
  • cimarrón
  • curí
  • giganton
  • huachuma

German:

  • San-Pedro-Kaktus
  • Trichocereus pachanoi

French:

  • San Pedro
  • Cactus San Pedro
  • Cactus de San Pedro
  • Trichocereus pachanoi

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Caryophyllales and the family Cactaceae. Finally, it is identified by its scientific genus, Echinopsis.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Caryophyllales
Family Cactaceae
Genus Echinopsis

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions across the globe. In Western South America, it can be found growing in Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. Its distribution also extends to the Macaronesian islands, specifically within the Canary Islands. Additionally, the species has established a presence in Southwestern Europe, particularly in Spain. These varied locations highlight the wide geographical range of this medicinal species.

Region Area
Southwestern Europe Spain
Macaronesia Canary Is.
Western South America Bolivia
Western South America Colombia
Western South America Ecuador
Western South America Peru
Southern South America Chile Central

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Chemicals

Echinopsis pachanoi has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include mescaline.

Chemicals reported in Echinopsis pachanoi
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
mescaline 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

mescaline

  1. Revista de neurologia

Activities

Echinopsis pachanoi has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Psychoactive.

Activities reported in Echinopsis pachanoi
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Psychoactive 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Psychoactive

  1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine