the total Navaho nation purchased four of every five plants sold. 



The large and sudden increase in Peyote consumers, and con- 

 comitantly fewer areas available to harvest, have accelerated the 

 price of the plant sold by Peyoteros. In 1966, Indians paid $15;00 

 per 1 ,000 dry plants (the dried crowns known as "Peyote buttons" 

 in the trade); by 1983 the price has increased to $80.00 per 1,000 

 dried crowns. Peyoteros indicate that the price increases are due 

 to higher operating costs, such as gasoline prices, and higher lease 

 payments. Delays and shortages of mail-order dry Peyote has 

 perhaps been a greater problem to Indians than price increases; a 

 major reason for the unavailability of dry Peyote is that wealthier 

 Indians and better organized groups buy large amounts ("loads") 

 of green Peyote in Texas (green Peyote costs $10,00 less per 1,000 

 plants); much of the harvest is bought almost as soon as it is cut. 



In sum, the biogeography of Peyote in south Texas has been 

 greatly altered due to man, namely the removal of brush for 

 land-use change, and the shrinking of the plant's range and di- 

 minution of its density due to harvesting pressures from reduced 

 acreages and increased consumer demand. Basically, those areas 

 of Peyote most likely to escape damage and loss are areas least 

 accessible to harvesters and too poor to warrant brush clearance. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



Anderson, Edward F. 1969. "The Biogeography, Ecology, and Taxonomy of 

 Lophophora (Cactaceae)." Brittonia 2 1 (October-December) 1969: 299- 310. 



Cardenas, Amada. Mirando City, Texas. Interview with Morgan. 1974. 



Cavazos, Juan. Laredo, Texas, interview with Morgan. 1974. 



Cook, O. F. 1908. Change of Vegetation of the South Texas Prairies, U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry Circular 14, Govern- 

 ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C. (1908): 1-16. 



Clover, Elzada U. 1937. "Vegetational Survey of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, 

 Texas/' Madrono. 4 (1937): 41-100. 



Correll, Donovan Stewart and Marshall Conring Johnston. 1970. Manual of 

 the Vascular Plants of Texas, Texas Research Foundation, Renner, Texas, 



1970. 

 Davila, Jesus. Oilton, Texas. Interview with Morgan, 1973-74. 

 Davis, R. B., and R. L. Spicer. 1965. Status of the Practice of Brush Control in 



the Rio Grande Plains. Bulletin 46, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 



Austin, Texas, 1965, 

 Denny, Louie. Mirando City, Texas. Interview with Morgan. 1974. 



Dice, Lee R. 1943. The Biotic Provinces of North America, University of 

 Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1943. 



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