Echinocactus

Echinocactus
Echinocactus polycephalus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Echinocactus
Link & Otto[1]
Type species
Echinocactus platyacanthus
Species

See text

Synonyms

Brittonrosea Speg.
Echinofossulocactus Lawr.
Homalocephala Britton & Rose[1]

Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae.[1] The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek ἐχῖνος (echînos), meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.

Species

As of 2023, the genus includes 6 accepted species out of hundreds of plants having the name.[2]

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Echinocactus × diabolicus (Halda, L.Vacek & Vaško) Janeba (E. horizonthalonius × E. platyacanthus) Mexico (Zacatecas)
Echinocactus horizonthalonius Lem. Devil's Head, Silverbell Cactus, Turk's Head CactusGolden Barrel Cactus southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Echinocactus parryi Engelm., 1856 horse crippler or devil's pincushion Mexican state of Chihuahua
Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto Giant Barrel Cactus Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert
Echinocactus polycephalus Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow Cottontop Cactus Mojave Desert region of Arizona, California, and Nevada, and northern Sonora, Mexico.
Echinocactus texensis Hopffer Horse Crippler, Devil's Pincushion[3][4] United States and Mexico.

Formerly placed here

References

  1. ^ a b c "Genus: Echinocactus Link & Otto". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  2. ^ "Echinocactus". The Plant List. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  3. ^ a b "GRIN Species Records of Echinocactus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  4. ^ "Echinocactus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  • Innes C, Wall B (1995). Cacti, Succulents and Bromeliads. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society.
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