Echinocereus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Echinocereus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus 8.jpg
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Echinocereeae
Genus: Echinocereus
Engelm.[1]
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]

Morangaya
Wilcoxia Britton & Rose

Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized, cylindrical 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 (echinos), meaning "hedgehog", and the Latin cereus meaning "candle". They are sometimes known as hedgehog cacti,[2] a term also used for the Pediocactus and Echinopsis.[3]

Description[]

Echinocereus spp. are bushy and globular with tight spines, which are often colorful and decorative. The flowers last slightly longer than those of other cacti.[citation needed]

Cultivation[]

Echinocereus spp. are easier to cultivate than many other cacti.[citation needed] 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[]

Hedgehog cactus growing in the wild
A color picture of a green cactus with white and tan spines
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. reichenbachii

The following species are recognised in the genus Echinocereus:[2]

Formerly placed here[]

  • Echinopsis candicans (Gillies ex Salm-Dyck) F.A.C.Weber ex D.R.Hunt (as E. candicans (Gillies ex Salm-Dyck) Rümpler)[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Genus: Echinocereus Engelm". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Echinocereus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  3. ^ "Echinopsis (Hedgehog Cacti)". Cactus and Succulent Society of Australia. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  4. ^ "GRIN Species Records of Echinocereus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2011-04-10.

Further reading[]

  • Fischer, Pierre C. 70 Common Cacti of the Southwest. City unknown: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1989.
  • Anderson, Miles (1998). The Ultimate Book of Cacti and Succulents. ISBN 1-85967-460-7. Lorenz Books.
  • Innes C, Wall B (1995). Cacti' Succulents and Bromaliads. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Anderson, Edward F. : "The Cactus Family" (2001)
  • Taylor, Nigel P.: The Genus Echinocereus. Kew Magazine Monograph, Timber Press 1985, ISBN 0-88192-052-5
  • Blum, Lange, Rischer & Rutow: Echinocereus, (1998)

External links[]

Retrieved from ""