Coryphantha compacta – Peyote Alternative
Pincushion Cactus of Mexico
Location: Mexico, Southwestern United States, Cuba
Although the Pincushion cactus is only a little over 3 inches in diameter, it is plentiful throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States. They usually grow in hilly or mountainous regions and can sometimes be hard to see from a distance. They are considerably spiny, although generally no central spines grow.
This cactus is well known to be a dangerous hallucinogen and is commonly feared throughout Mexico. Only experienced shaman typically use the plant and they refer to it as Bakana. It is usually used as a substitute for Peyote (a more well-known hallucinogenic cactus native to Mexico). There are many alkaloids which have been isolated from Bakana. Some of the more prominent alkaloids include calipamine, hordenine, and macromerine.
