Someone asks about what exactly "cristate growth" is Cristate (or crested) growth is an uncommon mutation that occurs in a wide variety of cactus. Some of the most stunning examples of "crested" growth can be seen among saguaro cacti. Go to google.com and look up pics of "crested saguaros" ....you will find the photos to be quite stunning. Whether or not this growth pattern is a result of physical damage (such as frost damage) to the cactus, or attributable to genetic factors is currently unclear. As you know, cacti have an apical growth tip from which the ribs of the plant grow. That fresh, light green growth at the top of you cactus is the fresh growth from the apical tissue. In a normal cactus, this growth tissue is central, emanating from one single point. In cristate cacti, the growth tip spread, decentralizes, and the new growth emanated from several points (or from an elongated "point" of tissue). The result is an outlandish looking cacti that will eventually grow to resemble a brain. Sometimes, cristate cacti will switch to another kind of growth which is known as "monstrose" and may even revert back to normal patterned growth in the same season. Cacti are amazingly variable in this fashion. Though slow growing, they are morphologically adaptable and display a number of unusual characteristics in comparison to non-succulent plant life. The two examples of Lophophora williamsii frm. cristata that I have came from a motherplant that was itself a cutting taken from the Royal Botanical Garden in Christchurch, New Zealand in the 1920's. I will include a jpeg of the original motherplant.

My cristate grafts are only a year old now, so it will be another 15 years before they reach the size and develop the lovely growth seen in the motherplant. Next year I will take cuttings from both of my specimens and graft them to a large Trichocereus, to be donated to the Botanical Gardens in Tuscon, Arizona. Peyote is endangered in the U.S. and I feel that it is my duty to get cuttings of this even more rare cacti to a public collection for all to appreciate. I will also include some photos of a Trichocereus pachanoi frm. cristata. Even though it is the same species as the tall, columnar T. pachanoi, it resembles a coral reef. People are always shocked when I tell them that the two cacti are the same species! If you would like, I will tell you how to graft your Peyotyl, thus increasing your understanding of the plant. Personally, I would practice grafting on a non-mescaline bearing cactus first. Do you have those pink or orange/red ornamental grafted cacti in your local plant stores or supermarkets? They cost about $3.00 U.S. here in New Mexico. If you can find one that already has some dime-sized pups on it, buy it. Then I will tell you how to graft them to a San Pedro or a Blue Myrtle cactus. If you do it right, you will be ready to try it with your Peyote. Anyhooz, here are the photos. Best Wishes to you, my Brother! Talks more about cristate growth:

Anyhooz, cristate growth occurs when the apical growth tip (the central tissue at the tip of a cactus from which the new cacti ribs growth emanate) becomes decentralized and develops into a growth "edge". Rather than growing in the normal vertical "barrel" or "columnar" pattern, the cacti grows in a long, enfolding pattern that eventually comes to resemble a brain or intestines. Go to google.com and type in "crested saguaros" to see examples of some of the largest and most stunning cristate cacti.

Monstrose growth is very similar to cristate growth insomuch as it results from a decentralization of the apical growth tip. However, rather than manifesting in the shape of a brain, a monstrose cacti will develop into a form that more resembles the normal growth... only the new growth will look misshapen, dwarfed in places, enlarged in others. Instead of a growth "edge" the apical tip will bifurcate into multiple tips that will grow into the aforementioned misshapen columnar forms. Interestingly enough, cacti that display this kind of growth will often "switch" back and forth between cristate and monstrose growth. Myrtillocactus geometrizans is becoming more and more common in nurseries that specialize in cacti. It will often display both forms of mutated growth simultaneously. If you take a cutting from a cristate/monstrose cactus, there is no telling what it will do once it roots!