294 



The Journal of Heredity 



TlIK -DEVIL'S ROOT" 



Peyotl Zacatccensi? {Lo-phophora wil- 

 liamsii). "The root is of nearly 

 medium size, sending forth no 

 branches nor leaves above ground, 

 but with a certain wooliness adher- 

 ing to it. [On account of its magic 

 properties! this root scarcely issues 

 forth, but conceals itself in the 

 ground, as thftugh unwilling to 

 harm those who may discover it 

 and cat it." — Francisco HcrnandcK, 

 1576. I'hr)tograph natural size. 

 (FiK. 2.) 



States the writer has souji;ht dilij^^ently 

 for a fungus having the properties 

 attributed to the teonanacatl. As this 

 narcotic was used by various tribes of 

 Chichimecas , and the Chichimecas in- 

 habited the territory situated in what is 

 now northern Mexico and the south- 

 western United States, it was natural 

 to look for the j^lant in this region. No 

 such fiuigus, however, was discovered, 

 but in its place a narcotic plant having 

 properties exactly like those attributed 

 to the teonanacatl was encountered; 

 moreover, one form of this plant, when 

 prepared as a drug, resembles a dried 

 mushroom so remarkably that at first 

 glance it will even decei\-e a trained 

 mycologist. It is discoid in form and 

 apparently peltate when seen from 

 below; but the upper surface bears 

 tufts of silky hairs, and a close inspection 

 reveals the fact that it is the crown of a 

 small fleshy spineless cactus which has 

 been cut off and dried. The cactus 

 in question, Lophophora ii'illiamsii, when 

 entire, resembles a carrot or radish 

 rather than a mushroom, and when cut 

 into longitudinal slices or irregular 

 pieces, would never be mistaken for a 

 fungus. For this reason the drug 

 prepared in the latter form was not 

 recognized in southern Mexico as the 

 same as the discoid form, and it was 

 called peyotl by the Aztecs, while the 

 name nanacatl was applied to the latter. 



IDENTITY WITH THK N.\RCOTU' I'KYOTL 



Sahagun, who described the drugs of 

 the ancient Mexicans from s])ecimens 

 brought to him by Indian herb doctors, 

 failed to recognize the identity of the 

 teonanacatl and peyotl of the Chichi- 

 mecas, although he attributes similar 

 narcotic properties to each. The latter 

 he describes as follows : 



"There is another herb, like tunas* 

 of the earth; it is called pciotl: it is 

 white ; it is produced in the north coun- 

 try ; those who eat or drink it see visions 

 either frightful or laughable; this 

 intoxication lasts two or three days and 

 then ceases; it is a common food of the 

 Chichimecas. for it sustains them and 

 gives them (M)urage to fight and not 

 feel fear nor liunger nor thirst; and they 



Tuna, the Spanish name for the fruit of the ( )puntia, or ])riikly pear. 



