Biology:Echinocereus enneacanthus

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Short description: Species of plant

Echinocereus enneacanthus
Echinocereus enneacanthus in bloom - Val Verde County TX (1).jpg
Scientific classification edit
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 centimeters. 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 centimeters long. The six to 13 straight, whitish to brownish marginal spines are up to 4 centimeters long.

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

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 states of New Mexico and Texas and in the north of the neighboring Mexican state of Sonora.

Taxonomy

The first description by George Engelmann was published in 1848. The specific epithet enneacanthus means 'nine-spined'.[4] 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)[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2014 Annual Checklist.". Species 2000: Reading, UK.. 2014. http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2014/details/species/id/13438219. 
  2. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Echinocereus enneacanthus". https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19807#null. 
  3. Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005) (in de). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon. Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 196–197. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1. 
  4. 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. 
  5. Arts, American Academy of (1849). "Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences". The Academy. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14225817. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q291700 entry