Echinocereus sciurus

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Echinocereus sciurus
Echinocereus sciurus pm.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Echinocereus
Species:
E. sciurus
Binomial name
Echinocereus sciurus
(K.Brandegee) Dams 1904
Synonyms
  • Cereus sciurusBrandegee 1904

Echinocereus sciurus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

Contents

Description

Echinocereus sciurus grows like a groundcover, forming clusters up to 60 cm (24 in) wide. The slender shoots, often up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long, are almost hidden by numerous thorns. It has 12 to 17 low ribs, divided into tubercles spaced 5 to 6 mm (0.20 to 0.24 in) apart. The 15 to 18 slender radial spines, pale with brownish tips, are arranged in a circle with small areoles. Several central spines are shorter and have a brown sloping spine. The funnel-shaped flowers are light to deep purple-pink, up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long, and 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter, with numerous stamens having greenish filaments and a green stigma. [2]

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies: [3]

ImageScientific nameDistribution
Echinocereus sciurus subsp. floresii(Backeb.) N.P.TaylorMexico (NW. Sonora)
Echinocereus sciurus subsp. sciurusMexico (S. Baja California Sur)

Distribution

Echinocereus sciurus is found in the Sonoran Desert in Baja California Sur and Sinaloa, Mexico, at elevations between 10 and 200 meters. Plants are found growing along with Pachycereus pringlei , Stenocereus thurberi , Lophocereus schottii , Ferocactus townsendianus , Echinocereus barthelowianus , Peniocereus johnstonii , Stenocereus gummosus , Cochemiea schumannii , Cochemiea armillata , and Mammillaria peninsularis . [4]

Taxonomy

Originally described as Cereus sciurus by Mary Katharine Brandegee in 1904, the species name 'sciurus' means 'squirrel,' referring to the color and texture of the spines. [5] Erich Dams reclassified it under the genus Echinocereus in the same year. [6] [7]

References

  1. ↑ León de la Luz, J.L.; Hernández, H.M.; Gómez-Hinostrosa, C. (2013). "Echinocereus sciurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013 e.T152547A649611. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152547A649611.en .
  2. ↑ Anderson, Edward F. (2011). Das große Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. pp. 208–209. ISBN   978-3-8001-5964-2.
  3. ↑ "Echinocereus sciurus (Brandegee) Dams". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  4. ↑ "Echinocereus sciurus". LLIFLE. 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2024-07-03. Creative Commons by-sa small.svg  This article incorporates textfrom this source, which is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
  5. ↑ "Zoe". Zoe Publishing Co. 1905. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  6. ↑ "Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde". J. Neumann. 1904. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  7. ↑ Korotkova, Nadja; Aquino, David; Arias, Salvador; Eggli, Urs; Franck, Alan; Gómez-Hinostrosa, Carlos; Guerrero, Pablo C.; Hernández, Héctor M.; Kohlbecker, Andreas; Köhler, Matias; Luther, Katja; Majure, Lucas C.; Müller, Andreas; Metzing, Detlev; Nyffeler, Reto; Sánchez, Daniel; Schlumpberger, Boris; Berendsohn, Walter G. (2021-08-31). "Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org – a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family". Willdenowia. 51 (2). doi:10.3372/wi.51.51208. ISSN   0511-9618.
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