Echinocereus
Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized, cylindrical shaped cacti, comprising about 70 species native to the southern United States and Mexico in very sunny, rocky places. Usually the flowers are large and the fruit edible.
The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἐχῖνος, meaning "sea urchin", and the Latin cereus meaning "candle". They are sometimes known as hedgehog cacti, a term also used for the Pediocactus and Echinopsis.
Description
The species of the genus Echinocereus grow solitary or branching with prostrate to erect shoots that are spherical to cylindrical. The roots are fibrous or bulbous. The plants reach heights of growth between 1 and 60 centimeters. On the tips of the 4 to 26 ribs, which are mostly clear and only rarely resolved into humps, are the areoles, from which differently shaped spines can arise.A distinctive characteristic and likely synapomorphy of the genus is the erumpent flowers. The floral buds develop internally and break through the epidermis of the stem. This flower morphology is likely an adaptation to protect the developing buds from low temperatures. Upon maturity, the flowers are usually brightly colored and open during the day. Echinocereus floral color is variable because perianth color reflects pollinator specificity. Red flowers are generally associated with hummingbird pollination, while pink flowers tend to correspond to moth pollination. Their pericarp and floral tubes are studded with thorns, bristles, and sometimes wool. The scar is usually green, but sometimes white in color.
The spherical to ovoid fruits are green to red and mostly thorny. They are mostly juicy and open along a longitudinal slit. The sometimes fragrant fruits contain broadly oval, black, tuberous seeds 0.8 to 2 millimeters long.
Taxonomy
Echinocereus is a genus in the tribe Echinocereeae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae family. The Cactoideae can be further divided into two sister clades, Cactoideae I and II. Echinocereus is situated within the Cactoideae I clade within the Pachycereeae tribe, a tribe that represents a diversification that yielded columnar and arborescent forms. Echinocereus emerged 4.6 ± 1.7 million years ago. Echinocereus is a strongly supported monophyletic genus that is sister to Stenocereus, although there has historically been substantial debate about infrageneric classification because of the genus's high rates of morphological variation and convergent evolution.Cultivation
Echinocereus spp. are easier to cultivate than many other cacti. They need light soil, a sunny exposure, and a fresh and dry winter to flower. They grow better in soil slightly richer than other cacti. In the wild, several of the species are cold hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as −23 °C, but only in dry conditions.Species
The following species are recognized in the genus Echinocereus by Plants of the World Online: separated by sections established in Phylogeny in Echinocereus based on combinedmorphological and molecular evidence: taxonomic implications 2017.
| Section | Image | Scientific name | Subspecies | Distribution |
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus berlandieri Haage | Mexico, Texas | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus cinerascens Lem. | Echinocereus cinerascens subsp. cinerascensEchinocereus cinerascens subsp. septentrionalis N.P.TaylorEchinocereus cinerascens subsp. tulensis N.P.Taylor | Texas to Mexico | |
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus enneacanthus Engelm. | Mexico | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus freudenbergeri G.Frank | Mexico | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus longisetus Lem. | Echinocereus longisetus subsp. delaetii N.P.TaylorEchinocereus longisetus subsp. longisetus | Mexico. | |
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus nivosus Glass & R.A.Foster | Mexico | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus papillosus Linke ex Rümpler | Texas to NE. Mexico | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus parkeri N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus parkeri subsp. arteagensis W.Blum & Mich.LangeEchinocereus parkeri subsp. gonzalezii N.P.TaylorEchinocereus parkeri subsp. mazapilensis W.Blum & Mich.LangeEchinocereus parkeri subsp. parkeri | Mexico. | |
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus rayonesensis N.P.Taylor | Mexico. | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus stramineus F.Seitz | New Mexico to W. Texas and NE. Mexico | ||
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus viereckii Werderm. | Echinocereus viereckii subsp. morricalii N.P.TaylorEchinocereus viereckii subsp. viereckii | Mexico. | |
| Costati N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus zapalinamensis W.Blum & J.Flores Ventura | Mexico | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus blumii D.Felix & H.Bauer | Mexico | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus canus D.Felix & H.Bauer | Texas | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus chloranthus Haage | SE. Arizona to W. Texas and Mexico | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus davisii Houghton | Texas | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus mapimiensis E.F.Anderson, W.C.Hodgs. & P.Quirk | Mexico | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus milleri W.Blum, Kuenzler & Oldach | Texas | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus neocapillus W.Blum & Mich.Lange | W. Texas | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus pentalophus J.N.Haage | Echinocereus pentalophus subsp. leonensis N.P.TaylorEchinocereus pentalophus subsp. pentalophusEchinocereus pentalophus subsp. procumbens W.Blum & Mich.Lange | Texas, Mexico | |
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus occidentalis W.Rischer, S.Breckw. & Breckw. |
| Mexico | |
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus russanthus D.Weniger | Texas to Mexico | ||
| Echinocereus | Echinocereus viridiflorus Engelm. | Echinocereus viridiflorus subsp. correllii W.Blum & Mich.LangeEchinocereus viridiflorus subsp. viridiflorus | SW. South Dakota to N. Texas and Mexico | |
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus apachensis W.Blum & Rutow | Arizona. | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus barthelowianus Britton & Rose | Mexico | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus bonkerae Thornber & Bonker | Arizona | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus brandegeei K.Schum. | Mexico | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus dasyacanthus Engelm. | Echinocereus dasyacanthus subsp. ctenoides LodéEchinocereus dasyacanthus subsp. dasyacanthusEchinocereus dasyacanthus subsp. multispinosus D.Felix & H.BauerEchinocereus dasyacanthus subsp. rectispinus W.Blum, W.Rischer & Rutow | Mexico | |
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus engelmannii Lem. | Echinocereus engelmannii subsp. engelmannii Echinocereus engelmannii subsp. llanuraensis Felger | United States, Mexico | |
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus fasciculatus L.D.Benson | Colorado to NE. Mexico. | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus felixianus H.Bauer | New Mexico, Texas, Mexico | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus fendleri Sencke ex J.N.Haage | Echinocereus fendleri subsp. fendleriEchinocereus fendleri subsp. rectispinus N.P.Taylor | Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah; Mexico. | |
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus ferreirianus H.E.Gates | Echinocereus ferreirianus subsp. ferreirianusEchinocereus ferreirianus subsp. lindsayorum N.P.Taylor | Mexico | |
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus ledingii Peebles | Arizona. | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus maritimus K.Schum. | Mexico. | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus nicholii B.D.Parfitt | Arizona to Mexico | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus pectinatus Engelm. | Echinocereus pectinatus subsp. pectinatusEchinocereus pectinatus subsp. rutowiorum W.BlumEchinocereus pectinatus subsp. wenigeri W.Blum & Rutow | Mexico. | |
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus perplexus W.Blum & A.P.Campos | Texas | ||
| Erecti Bravo | Echinocereus relictus Wellard | Utah | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus acanthosetus Gómez-Quintero & Dan.Sánchez | Mexico | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus adustus Engelm. | Echinocereus adustus subsp. adustusEchinocereus adustus subsp. roemerianus W.RischerEchinocereus adustus subsp. schwarzii N.P.Taylor | Mexico | |
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus knippelianus Liebner | Mexico. | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus laui G.Frank | Mexico | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus pamanesii A.B.Lau | Echinocereus pamanesii subsp. bonatzii R.C.RömerEchinocereus pamanesii subsp. pamanesii | Mexico | |
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus pulchellus K.Schum. | Mexico | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus schereri G.Frank | Mexico. | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus sharpii Dan.Sánchez & Gómez-Quintero | Mexico | ||
| Pulchellus N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus weinbergii Weing. | Echinocereus weinbergii subsp. venustus Gómez-Quintero & Dan.SánchezEchinocereus weinbergii subsp. weinbergii | Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus bristolii W.T.Marshall | Mexico | ||
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus chisosensis W.T.Marshall | Echinocereus chisosensis subsp. chisosensisEchinocereus chisosensis subsp. fobeanus N.P.Taylor | Texas to Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus grandis Britton & Rose | Mexico | ||
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus palmeri Britton & Rose | Echinocereus palmeri subsp. mazapil H.M.Hern. & Gómez-Hin.Echinocereus palmeri subsp. palmeri | Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus primolanatus Fritz Schwarz ex N.P.Taylor | Mexico. | ||
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus pseudopectinatus N.P.Taylor | Arizona to Mexico | ||
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus reichenbachii J.N.Haage | Echinocereus reichenbachii subsp. armatus N.P.TaylorEchinocereus reichenbachii subsp. baileyi N.P.TaylorEchinocereus reichenbachii subsp. burrensis G.Frank, Metorn & E.SchererEchinocereus reichenbachii subsp. fitchii N.P.TaylorEchinocereus reichenbachii subsp. perbellus N.P.TaylorEchinocereus reichenbachii subsp. reichenbachii | Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas; Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus rigidissimus Rose | Echinocereus rigidissimus subsp. rigidissimusEchinocereus rigidissimus subsp. rubispinus N.P.Taylor | New Mexico, Arizona and N. Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus sciurus Dams | Echinocereus sciurus subsp. floresii N.P.TaylorEchinocereus sciurus subsp. sciurus | Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus scopulorum Britton & Rose | Mexico | ||
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus spinigemmatus A.B.Lau | Mexico | ||
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus stolonifer W.T.Marshall | Echinocereus stolonifer subsp. stoloniferEchinocereus stolonifer subsp. tayopensis N.P.Taylor | Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus subinermis Salm-Dyck ex Scheer | Echinocereus subinermis subsp. ochoterenae N.P.TaylorEchinocereus subinermis subsp. subinermis | Mexico | |
| Reichenbachii N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus websterianus G.E.Linds. | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus acifer Jacobi | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus arizonicus Rose ex Orcutt | Echinocereus arizonicus subsp. arizonicusEchinocereus arizonicus subsp. matudae RutowEchinocereus arizonicus subsp. nigrihorridispinus W.Blum & Rutow | Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico | |
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus bakeri W.Blum, Oldach & J.Oldach | Arizona, Nevada, Utah | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus coccineus Engelm. | Echinocereus coccineus subsp. coccineusEchinocereus coccineus subsp. paucispinus W.Blum, Mich.Lange & RutowEchinocereus coccineus subsp. rosei W.Blum & Rutow | New Mexico and Mexico | |
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus gurneyi W.Blum, Oldach & J.Oldach | Texas. | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus huitcholensis M.Gürke | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus marksianus Fritz Schwarz ex Backeb. | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus ortegae Rose | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus pacificus Britton & Rose | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus polyacanthus Engelm. | Mexico. | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus salm-dyckianus Scheer | Mexico | ||
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus santaritensis W.Blum & Rutow | Echinocereus santaritensis subsp. bacanorensis W.Rischer & D.FelixEchinocereus santaritensis subsp. santaritensis | Arizona to New Mexico and Mexico | |
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus scheeri Scheer | Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi N.P.TaylorEchinocereus scheeri subsp. scheeri | Mexico | |
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus triglochidiatus Engelm. | Echinocereus triglochidiatus subsp. mojavensis W.Blum & Mich.LangeEchinocereus triglochidiatus subsp. triglochidiatus | Colorado to New Mexico and NW. Mexico. | |
| Triglochidiata Bravo 1973 | Echinocereus yavapaiensis M.A.Baker | Arizona | ||
| Wilcoxia N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus kroenleinii W.Blum & Waldeis | Mexico | ||
| Wilcoxia N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus leucanthus N.P.Taylor | Mexico | ||
| Wilcoxia N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus poselgeri Lem. | Texas to NE. Mexico. | ||
| Wilcoxia N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus schmollii N.P.Taylor | Mexico | ||
| Wilcoxia N.P.Taylor | Echinocereus waldeisii Haugg | Mexico |
Natural hybrids
Formerly placed here
- Echinopsis candicans F.A.C.Weber ex D.R.Hunt