Echinocereus bonkerae
Echinocereus davisii
bonker hedgehog, pinkflower hedgehog cactus
Davis' hedgehog cactus
mostly erect, ovoid to cylindric, 15–30(–50) × 3.5–7 cm;
ribs (11–)12–18(–20), crests slightly undulate;
areoles 8–20 mm apart.
erect, spheric, (1–)2–3 × 1–2(–2.5) cm;
ribs 6–9, crests poorly defined, undulate;
areoles of largest plants 6–7(–10) mm apart.
(9–)12–17 per areole, straight in short-spined forms, sometimes curved or twisted in long-spined forms, appressed (radial spines) or porrect to spreading or descending (central spines when present), dull yellowish to brown or white to gray, often brown to black especially at bases or tips;
radial spines (9–)11–16 per areole, 5–18 mm;
central spines (0–)1(–3) per areole, 2–100 mm, white to yellow or brown, often becoming gray, all terete.
8–14(–15) per areole, in relatively old plants curving irregularly in random directions, gray or white, some or all tipped black, dark reddish brown, or dull reddish purple;
radial spines 8–14 per areole, ± pectinately arranged, (5–)10–15(–19) mm;
central spines 0(–1) per areole, terete, 10–12 mm, closely resembling largest radial spines.
5–7 × 4–9 cm;
flower tube 12–20 × 10–30 mm;
flower tube hairs 1 mm;
inner tepals deep magenta (to dark purple) with darker midstripes, proximally green (to very dark purple), 20–60 × 8.5–20 mm, tips relatively thin and delicate;
anthers yellow;
nectar chamber 2–4 mm.
1.5–2 × 1.5–2(–2.7) cm;
flower tube 5–8 × 5–10 mm;
flower tube hairs very short, inconspicuous;
inner tepals bright yellow-green, often with maroon midstripes, 9–18 × 2.7–3.8 mm, tips relatively thin and delicate;
anthers yellow;
nectar chamber 1 mm.
bright red or orange red, 15–25 mm, pulp white (or pale pink).
purplish brown or remaining green when ripe, 5.5–9(–11) mm, pulp white.
= 22.
= 22.
Echinocereus bonkerae
Echinocereus davisii
Plants in most populations of Echinocereus bonkerae have radial spines almost pectinately arranged and central spines very short or absent, creating the superficial appearance of E. dasyacanthus, E. pectinatus, or similar species. Formerly, all short-spined plants in central and southern Arizona were treated as E. bonkerae, including unusually short-spined individuals of E. fendleri and E. fasciculatus. Today we recognize that E. bonkerae, E. fendleri, and E. fasciculatus all vary from short-spined to long-spined.
Populations at the lowest altitude for the species have taller stems and unusually long, slender central spines (to 10 cm); they have recently been named Echinocereus apachensis. Such plants were part of the basis for L. D. Benson’s polyphyletic concept (1969, 1982) of E. fasciculatus var. boyce-thompsonii (see 8. E. fasciculatus).
Echinocereus bonkerae is a poorly defined species, frequently lumped with E. fendleri or E. fasciculatus, and it is not always identifiable in the field. Although rib number, blooming season, habitat preference, and, in particular regions, spine length or central spine presence are helpful characteristics, ploidy level is the most objective criterion for distinguishing E. bonkerae from E. fasciculatus. Immature plants of E. bonkerae are like E. fasciculatus and unlike the immature plants of E. fendleri, which are tuberculate with their spines long, few, soft, and often curved or twisted.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The relatively heavy, brown-and-white, often slightly contorted radial spines of Echinocereus davisii help to distinguish these tiny plants from seedlings of their larger congeners; remains of flowers and fruits, such as scattered flower tube spine-clusters, provide proof of sexual maturity. Echinocereus davisii is easily distinguished from E. viridiflorus; it is parapatric with E. viridiflorus without evidence of introgression. Echinocereus davisii is less compatible with E. viridiflorus than any varieties of E. viridiflorus are with one another (E. E. Leuck 1980).
Echinocereus davisii is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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