Echinocereus bonkerae
Echinocereus ledingii
bonker hedgehog, pinkflower hedgehog cactus
Leding's 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, cylindric, 15–50 × 6–8 cm;
ribs 12–14(–16), crests slightly undulate;
areoles 15–25 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.
10–16 per areole, mostly straight or central spines strongly curving down near base;
radial spines 9–11 per areole, pale to golden yellow, aging darker colored or black, 12–15 mm;
central spines 1(–5) per areole, all yellow or whitish, terete, 20–25 mm.
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.
5–6 × 5–6 cm;
flower tube 15–20 × 15–25 mm;
flower tube hairs 2 mm;
inner tepals magenta to rose-pink, darker proximally, 30 × 5–12 mm, tips relatively thin and delicate;
anthers yellow;
nectar chamber 5–8 mm.
bright red or orange red, 15–25 mm, pulp white (or pale pink).
green, sometimes tinged reddish to brownish, 20–30 mm, pulp white.
= 22.
= 22.
Echinocereus bonkerae
Echinocereus ledingii
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.)
More than half of the localities formerly attributed to Echinocereus ledingii (H. Bravo-H. and H. Sánchez-M. 1998–1991, vol. 3; L. D. Benson 1969) are undocumented and highly suspect. The decurved or deflexed central spines, supposedly diagnostic for this rare species, are misleadingly duplicated in many individuals of E. coccineus and E. arizonicus, and only the latter two species have been found in most of the mountain ranges mapped by A. A. Nichol for L. D. Benson. Echinocereus ledingii is found in the Graham (Pinaleño), Santa Theresa, and Chiricahua mountains.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
