Pachycereus From the Cactus Family
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Englem.)
Location: Mexico
The Pachycereus cactus is easy to spot, growing pretty tall, sometimes reaching heights of more than 6 feet tall. They typically sprout in multiple stalks, making for patches of the cactus that stand high throughout the desert of Mexico. The spines are shorter and gray in color with black tips. There are purple-colored flowers and a fruit covered by much wool and bristles. Cawe contains the alkaloids 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethylamine and 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline.
The Tarahumara Indians used the plant (which they call Cawe) to produce an intoxicating drink. This drink is much like alcohol, however, also acts as a narcotic. The juices that come from younger branches are more potent and when larger quantities are consumed, visual and audible hallucinations can be expected. The Indians also know this cactus and its resulting intoxicating beverage as “Wichowaka” which translates into “insanity.”
