Echinocereus stramineus

Last updated

Echinocereus stramineus
Echinocereus stramineus.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. stramineus
Binomial name
Echinocereus stramineus
Synonyms

Echinocereus conglomeratus

Echinocereus stramineus is a species of cactus, with stramineus meaning made of straw. There are various common names such as strawberry cactus, porcupine hedgehog cactus, straw-color hedgehog, and pitaya. The straw-colored spines distinguishes this particular plant from other Echinocereus . The aged spines may turn white in color and are very fragile. [1]

Contents

Distribution

Echinocereus stramineus is natively found in the United States (New Mexico and southwest Texas) and Mexico (Coahuila, Chihuahua, and Nuevo León). It prefers a similar living environment to other cactus such as desert, river and higher mountains. [2] There are certain specific areas in Mexico and United States where the plants occur. For example, United States; southern Trans-Pecos and the Big Bend region, Terrell Co. and lower Pecos River, Val Verde Co. (2,500–5000 ft). The region of the east side of Upton Co. to the Pecos River. South-central NM, Doña Ana, Otero, and Eddy counties. Mexico; Coahuila, East Chihuahua, West edges of Nuevo León, north Zacatecas, Northeast Durango, and N San Luis potosí. [3]

Vegetative characteristic

Echinocereus stramineus has various stems from which a sexual mature plant can have a number of stems from 10–50 to 100–350. The largest stem reported was 1 meter in diameter with up to 500 stems. The most unusual feature of this plant is the number of ribs per stem. Normally, it has 11–17 ribs per stem and the average ribs per stem is 12 so it is easier to distinguish this from other Echinocereus. In E. stramineus, the areoles are circular in shape and normally 7–15 mm apart. Each areole contains average 2–4 central spines and 7–10 radial spines in which radial spines are acicular and 2–3 cm in length. [3]

Flowers and fruits

Echinocereus stramineus Echinocereus stramineus 1.JPG
Echinocereus stramineus

Echinocereus stramineus flowers in late March to May and flowers are average 8.5 to 12.5 cm in diameter and length. The inner tepals are deep red compared to the outer portion of the tepals. The filaments are 0.8–1 cm long and are reddish, and anthers are yellow in color. (Filament and anther are the male structures.) The green stigma lobes (usually 10–13 lobes and average 8 mm long) are supported by reddish styles (usually 2.7 cm long and 2.5 mm thick). There are also rare individuals reported by Big Bend National Park where pure white flowers are found instead of the usual red. Fruits are globular in shape and 5–6 cm in diameter. The color will turn reddish brown when ripe, and the areoles on the fruit can be easily removed. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bergerocactus</i> Genus of cacti from North America

Bergerocactus emoryi is a species of cactus, known commonly as the golden-spined cereus, golden snake cactus, velvet cactus or golden club cactus. It is a relatively small cactus, but it can form dense thickets or colonies, with the dense yellow spines giving off a velvety appearance when backlit by the sun. From April to May, yellow, green-tinged flowers emerge, which transform into reddish, globular fruit. This species is native to the California Floristic Province, and is found in northwestern Baja California and a small part of California, in San Diego County and on the southern Channel Islands. Where the Mediterranean climate of the California Floristic Province collides with the subtropical Sonoran Desert near El Rosario, hybrids with two other species of cacti are found. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Bergerocactus, named after German botanist Alwin Berger.

<i>Obregonia</i> Genus of cacti

Obregonia, the artichoke cactus, is a monotypic genus of cacti, containing the species Obregonia denegrii. The species is endemic to the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico.

<i>Morangaya</i> Genus of cylindrical cacti

Morangaya is a monotypic genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized, cylindrical shaped cacti, that is native to north western Mexico. The only species is Morangaya pensilis. It is found in the mountains and rocky hills.

<i>Echinocereus engelmannii</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus engelmannii, the strawberry hedgehog cactus or Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, is a cactus commonly found in desert areas of the southwestern United States and the adjacent areas of Mexico, including the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Baja California and Sonora.

<i>Disocactus crenatus</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus crenatus, the crenate orchid cactus, is a species of cactus and a critical parent plant in creating the epiphyllum hybrids commonly cultivated worldwide. It is cultivated for its large flowers.

<i>Selenicereus hamatus</i> Species of cactus

Selenicereus hamatus is a species of Cactaceae and produces one of the largest flowers in the family. It is a cultivated ornamental vine. The species is native to Mexico.

<i>Selenicereus spinulosus</i> Species of cactus

Selenicereus spinulosus is a cactus species native to eastern Mexico and, possibly, the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States. Common names include vine-like moonlight cactus and spiny moon cereus. Its specific name, spinulosus, means "with small spines" in Latin.

<i>Epiphyllum laui</i> Species of cactus

Epiphyllum laui is a cactus species native to Mexico and grown as an ornamental.

<i>Echinocereus reichenbachii</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus reichenbachii is a perennial plant and shrub in the cactus family. The species is native to the Chihuahuan Desert and parts of northern Mexico and the southern United States, where they grow at elevations up to 1,500 meters (4,900 ft). This cactus earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Echinocereus triglochidiatus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a species of hedgehog cactus known by several common names, including kingcup cactus, claretcup, and Mojave mound cactus. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland. It is most abundant in shady areas.

<i>Selenicereus grandiflorus</i> Species of nocturnal cactus native to Central America and the Caribbean

Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus, large-flowered cactus, sweet-scented cactus or vanilla cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation. Most of the plants under this name belong to other species or hybrids. It is often confused with the genus Epiphyllum.

<i>Aztekium ritteri</i> Species of cactus

Aztekium ritteri is a species of cactus native to the Mexican state of Nuevo León.

<i>Echinocereus fendleri</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus fendleri is a species of cactus known by the common names pinkflower hedgehog cactus and Fendler's hedgehog cactus. It is named in honor of Augustus Fendler.

<i>Echinocereus viridiflorus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus viridiflorus is a species of cactus known by the common names nylon hedgehog cactus, green pitaya, and small-flowered hedgehog cactus. It is native to the central and south-central United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in varied habitat types, including desert scrub, woodlands, dry grasslands, and short-grass prairie.

<i>Pediocactus bradyi <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> despainii</i> Species of cactus

Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Despain's cactus and San Rafael cactus.

<i>Echinocereus dasyacanthus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus dasyacanthus is a member of the cactus family, Cactaceae. It is one of about 2000 total species belonging to this family. The cactus is commonly known as Texas rainbow cactus because of the subtle rings or bands of contrasting colors along the stem of the plant. Not all Texas rainbow cacti have the "rainbow" coloration on their stems. Another common name is spiny hedgehog cactus.

<i>Sclerocactus sileri</i> Species of cactus

Sclerocactus sileri, the Siler fishhook cactus, is a rare and very small cactus found mostly in mineral-rich desert areas of intermediate elevations, notably in the American states of Utah, Nevada, and northern Arizona.

<i>Echinocereus coccineus</i> Species of plant

Echinocereus coccineus is a species of hedgehog cactus. Its native to Northern and Central America. It grows on full sun, in sandy or rocky well-drained soil. It can survive in hardiness zones 8–11.

<i>Echinocereus rigidissimus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus rigidissimus, commonly known as the Arizona rainbow cactus or rainbow hedgehog cactus is a solitary growing cactus that rarely branches or offsets with age.

<i>Polaskia chichipe</i> Species of cactus

Polaskia chichipe is a succulent cactus native to a small area of mountains of northern Oaxaca and southern Puebla, Mexico. It grows in xerophytic shrubland between 1,600 and 2,300 meters above sea level.

References

  1. "Echinocereus stramineus". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  2. CACTUS ART. "Echinocereus stramineus". CACTUS ART. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 A. Michael Powell; James F. Weedin; Shirley A. Powell (2008). Cacti of Texas. Texas Tech University Press. p. 158.