''Echinocereus enneacanthus'' is a species of
flowering plant first described by
George Engelmann
George Engelmann, also known as Georg Engelmann, (2 February 1809 – 4 February 1884) was a German-American botanist. He was instrumental in describing the flora of the west of North America, then very poorly known to Europeans; he was particu ...
.
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 . 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 long. The six to 13 straight, whitish to brownish marginal spines are up to long.
The funnel-shaped flowers are magenta colored and have a darker throat. They appear below the shoot tips, are up to long and reach a diameter of . The spherical to egg-shaped fruits contain pink flesh and taste like strawberries.
Subspecies
This species is divided into the following subspecies:
* ''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.
Taxonomy
The first description by
George Engelmann
George Engelmann, also known as Georg Engelmann, (2 February 1809 – 4 February 1884) was a German-American botanist. He was instrumental in describing the flora of the west of North America, then very poorly known to Europeans; he was particu ...
was published in 1848. The specific epithet enneacanthus means 'nine-spined'.
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).
References
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q291700
enneacanthus
Cacti of Mexico
Flora of Texas
Flora of New Mexico