peyote

(Sp. model spelled same [pejóte] < Nahuatl péyotl or péyutl 'cocoon of the silkworm')

   A spineless cactus with intoxicating properties (Lophophora williamsii) that Indians use to make a hallucinatory drug. Santamaría references it as a generic name for various cacti, including Ariocarpus retusu, Anhalonium prismaticum, A. elongatum, Mamillaria ariolosa, M. elongata, M. furfuracea, and M. prismatica. However, he indicates that it refers properly to the Lophophora,a spineless species of biznaga that grows to a height of four to six inches, though as little as one-half inch may be visible above the soil, and for this reason it is sometimes called a root rather than a cactus. The plant contains a narcotic substance often studied for its physical and chemical properties. The Aztecs used it as a tonic, spreading it on their legs so that they could withstand long journeys. They also said that anyone who ingested the substance would see visions and be able to predict the future. Santamaría quotes Sahagún, who states that the hallucinatory effects of the peyote drug lasted for two or three days, during which time a person who had taken it had the courage to fight without fear, thirst, or hunger. He notes that it was commonly taken by Chichimeca Indians. See also mescal.