TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

CACTACEAE

CACTUS FAMILY

Edward F. Anderson (except Opuntia)

Perennial, shrub, tree, generally fleshy
Stem cylindric, spheric, or flat; surface smooth, tubercled, or ribbed (fluted); nodal areoles bear flowers, generally bear spines from center ("central spines") and margin ("radial spines") (Opuntia areoles bear small, barbed, deciduous bristles sometimes called glochids, generally also bear spines)
Leaf generally 0
Flower generally solitary, bisexual, sessile, ± radial; perianth parts generally many, grading from scale-like to petal-like; stamens many; ovary appearing inferior, ± submerged in stem, so generally with areoles on surface, style 1, stigma lobes generally many
Fruit generally fleshy, generally indehiscent, spiny, scaly, or smooth
Seeds many
Genera in family: 93 genera, ± 2000 species: especially Am deserts; many cultivated
Etymology: (Greek: thorny plant)
Reference: [Benson 1982 Cacti of US & Can; Hunt & Taylor eds 1990 Bradleya 8:85–107]

ECHINOCEREUS

HEDGEHOG CACTUS


Stems 1–many, often densely clumped, each < 1 m, 2–10 cm diam, cylindric; ribs 5–13, prominent; tubercles ± indistinct; spines straight or curved
Flowers on old growth, often near upper margin of spine-bearing areoles; ovary spiny
Fruit spheric to ovoid, glabrous; spines deciduous
Seed ovoid to ± spheric, tubercled, generally black
Species in genus: 47 species: sw US, Mex
Etymology: (Greek: hedgehog candle)
Reference: [Taylor 1985 Genus Echinocereus]

Native

E. triglochidiatus Engelm.

Plant generally forming dense mounds
Stems 1–500, 5–40 cm, 5–15 cm diam, ± spheric to cylindric, light- to bluish green; ribs 5–12; tubercles ± obvious; areole wool persistent; spines highly variable, ± angled, generally gray, those < 1 year old puberulent near tip; central spines 1–6, difficult to distinguish from radial spines
Flower < 9 cm, funnel-shaped; perianth orange to red, inner parts round or evenly notched
Fruit 20–25 mm, 10–15 mm diam, pink to red; spines deciduous
Chromosomes: 2n=22
Ecology: Many habitats
Elevation: 150–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: White and Inyo Mountains, Desert
Distribution outside California: to Rocky Mtns, Texas, Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Synonyms: E. mojavensis (Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow) Ruempler
Highly variable; sometimes divided into vars., but not satisfactorily. More study needed
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for ECHINOCEREUS%20triglochidiatus being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Retrieve dichotomous key for Echinocereus
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California