Echinocereus enneacanthus

Echinocereus enneacanthus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Echinocereus
Species:
E. enneacanthus
Binomial name
Echinocereus enneacanthus
Synonyms

Cereus enneacanthus (Engelm.) Engelm.

Echinocereus enneacanthus is a species of flowering plant first described by George Engelmann.[1][2]

Description

Echinocereus enneacanthus forms low cushions with 30 to 200 shoots. The cloudy to light green, cylindrical shoots, which are prostrate except for the tips, are up to 2 meters long and have a diameter of 3.5 to 15 cm (1.4 to 5.9 in). There are seven to ten ribs that are not clearly tuberculated. The one to four straight or curved, round to flattened, angular or furrowed central spines are yellowish to brownish or bluish. They are up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long. The six to 13 straight, whitish to brownish marginal spines are up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long.[citation needed]

The funnel-shaped flowers are magenta colored and have a darker throat. They appear below the shoot tips, are up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long and reach a diameter of 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in). The spherical to egg-shaped fruits contain pink flesh and taste like strawberries.[3]

  • Plant
    Plant
  • Flowers
    Flowers

Subspecies

This species is divided into the following subspecies:[1]

  • Echinocereus enneacanthus brevispinus
  • Echinocereus enneacanthus enneacanthus

Distribution

Echinocereus enneacanthus is distributed in the United States in the state of Texas and is also found in northeast Mexico.[4]

  • Plants growing in Villa Arista, San Luis Potosi
    Plants growing in Villa Arista, San Luis Potosi
  • Plants growing near Estacion Vanegas
    Plants growing near Estacion Vanegas

Taxonomy

The first description by George Engelmann was published in 1848. The specific epithet enneacanthus means 'nine-spined'.[5] Common names include “Alicoche,” “Banana Cactus,” “Cob Cactus,” “Green Strawberry Hedgehog,” “Pitaya,” “Prostrate Hedgehog Cactus,” “Purple Pitaya,” “Strawberry Cactus,” and “Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus.” A nomenclature synonym is Cereus enneacanthus (Engelm.) Engelm. (1849).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2014 Annual Checklist". Species 2000: Reading, UK. 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  2. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Echinocereus enneacanthus". www.itis.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  3. ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. pp. 196–197. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  4. ^ "Echinocereus enneacanthus Engelm. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  5. ^ Wislizenus, F. A. (1848). Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico :connected with Col. Doniphan's expedition, in 1846 and 1847 /by A. Wislizenus. Washington: Tippin & Streeper. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.41509.
  6. ^ Arts, American Academy of (1849). "Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences". The Academy. ISSN 0096-6134. Retrieved 2023-10-28.