Various names calling attention to the odd shape of 
the plant have appeared. Among these may be cited: 
dumpling-cactus, cactus-pudding, turnip-cactus (20), biz- 
nagas (‘‘carrot’’) (14), and tuna de tierra (‘‘earth-cac- 
tus’’) (25). 
II. Plants confused with Lophophora Williamsii 
Occasionally, names properly belonging to distinctly 
different plants are applied to Lophophora Williamsii be- 
cause of an actual or assumed association with it. The 
name mescal bean is an example of this type of confusion. 
Recently, the Nahuatlan word teonanacatl (‘‘divine 
flesh’’) has become a generally accepted name for mescal 
buttons. This is the direct result of an erroneous identi- 
fication by Safford (22) of peyote with the sacred, intox- 
icating mushroom of the Aztecs. Failing to find a fungus 
possessing narcotic properties in Mexico or the south- 
western parts of the United States, and noting that the 
dried head of Lophophora Williamsu resembles ‘‘a dried 
mushroom so remarkably that at first glance it will even 
deceive a mycologist,’’ Safford concluded that the two 
were identical.” This erroneous identification was readily 
accepted and has, unfortunately, become firmly estab- 
lished in the literature. 
The first record of teonanacatl was made by Sahagun 
(25). He carefully distinguished between the mushroom 
and the cactus. In his history, he recorded that the Chi- 
chimecas were acquainted with the properties of many 
plants and had discovered peyote which took the place 
of wine in their diet. Concerning nanacatl, he wrote that 
they used these mushrooms like wine.” In another pas- 
sage,‘ he described the occurrence of teonanacat! in gras- 
sy pastures and certain supposed therapeutic properties 
which made it a valuable medicine for fevers and rheuma- 
tism, but which caused visions, produced nausea, and 
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