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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]

ESCOBARIA

BEEHIVE CACTUS


Stems 1–200, generally in ± 50 cm clumps, each 2–15 cm, 2–15 cm diam, ± depressed to cylindric; ribs inconspicuous; tubercles grooved on upper surface from areole to base; central spines straight, ± following tubercle axis; radial spines wide-spreading ± in 1 plane from tubercle tip
Flower 1–3(6) cm diam; outer perianth parts ciliate
Fruit becoming dry, spheric to club-shaped, red or green; perianth persistent
Seed reniform, black or brown, pitted
Species in genus: 16 species: w US, Mex
Etymology: (R. & N. Escobar, Mexico)
Reference: [Taylor 1986 Cact Succ J Gr Brit 4:36–44]

Native

E. vivipara (Nutt.) Buxb.


Stem 2–15 cm, 2–15 cm diam; tubercles 6–9 mm; spines dense, central spines 3–12, white, tip darker; radial spines 12–40, 9–25 mm, straight, white
Flower 2.5–5 cm diam, straw-yellow, yellow-green, pink, magenta, to purplish
Fruit 12–25 mm, elliptic in outline, green, sometimes with a few scales
Ecology: Sandy to rocky soils
Elevation: 75–2700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert
Distribution outside California: to Utah, Arizona, Mexico
Synonyms: Coryphantha v. (Nutt.) Britton & Rose; Mammillaria v. (Nutt.) Haw

Native

var. rosea (Clokey) D.R. Hunt

VIVIPAROUS FOXTAIL CACTUS


Stems 1–several, 7–18 cm, 7–15 cm diam, ovoid-spheric; central spines 10–12; radial spines 12–18
Flower 3–5 cm diam, magenta to purplish
Chromosomes: 2n=22
Ecology: Limestone slopes, hills
Elevation: 1500–2700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert Mountains (ne San Bernardino Co.)
Distribution outside California: s Nevada, nw Arizona
Synonyms: Coryphantha v. var. r. (Clokey) L.D. Benson
Threatened by collecting
Horticultural information: In cultivation.

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