peyote
n. a small, spineless cactus, Lophophora williamsii, that grows wild in Mexico and southern Texas. The name is derived from the Aztec word peyotl, which describes the plant as resembling a caterpillar’s cocoon. The principal active ingredient is the hallucinogen mescaline, found on the crown of the plant in discoid protuberances called mescal buttons. These buttons are cut from the roots and dried, then chewed or soaked in water to produce an intoxicating liquid. From earliest recorded time, peyote has been used by indigenous peoples of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as a part of their religious ceremonies; it is still incorporated into the rituals of the Native American Church. Both peyote and mescaline are classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as Schedule I controlled substances (see scheduled drug). Peyote’s future is threatened by overharvesting for use as a
recreational drug.