Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus reichenbachii
calico cactus, Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, strawberry hedgehog cactus
hedgehog cactus, lace cactus, lace hedgehog cactus
mostly erect, cylindric or somewhat tapering distally, (5–)14–45(–70) × 3–9 cm;
ribs 10–13, crests slightly undulate;
areoles 6–10(–15) mm apart.
erect, cylindric or short cylindric, 7.5–30(–40) × (2.5–)4–10 cm;
ribs 10–19, slightly undulate;
areoles 1–6(–10) mm apart.
(8–)15–20 per areole, usually straight (curved and twisted in desert mountains and peninsular ranges of California), individual spines with broad zones of different colors: whitish or grayish, dull golden-yellow, or reddish brown to nearly black;
radial spines 6–14 per areole, 8–20(–50) mm;
central spines (2–)4–6(–9) per areole, divergent-porrect, 12–70 mm, abaxial central spine often fading whitish, flat to sharply angled (terete or nearly so in north-central Arizona).
15–36 per areole, white to tan, dull pink, dark brown, or purplish black, central spines and spine tips often darker;
radial spines 12–36 per areole, straight to slightly curved, appressed, pectinately arranged or nearly so, 2–8(–25) mm;
central spines 0–7 per areole, terete, 1–6(–15) mm.
6–9 × 5–9 cm;
flower tube 13–30 × 10–30 mm;
flower tube hairs 1 mm;
inner tepals bright rose-pink to magenta, often varying from paler to darker in same population, proximally darker, 37–75 × (8–)14–25 mm, tips relatively thin, delicate;
anthers yellow;
nectar chamber 4–6 mm.
4.5–8(–12) × 5–10(–12) cm;
flower tube 22–40 × 10–30 mm;
flower tube hairs 5–15 mm;
inner tepals silvery pink to magenta, usually white, crimson, green, or multicolored proximally, 23–40 × 5–15 mm, tips relatively thin, delicate;
anthers yellow;
nectar chamber 2–5 mm.
red or orangish, 25–45 mm, pulp whitish becoming infused with pink or red from the skin.
green, olive green, or dark green, 15–28 mm, pulp white.
= 44.
= 22.
Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus reichenbachii
The characteristics distinguishing Echinocereus engelmannii from E. fasciculatus to the east are poorly documented, and W. Blum et al. (1998) combined the two as separate subspecies of E. engelmannii. Historically, E. engelmannii has been characterized as having the abaxial central spine in each areole particularly long, pale, and strongly compressed dorsiventrally (sharply angled, hence daggerlike), contrasting with the other spines. In practice that trait is not always diagnostic. Plants called Echinocereus engelmannii var. acicularis L. D. Benson are essentially morphologically and geographically intermediate between those referred to E. fasciculatus and E. engelmannii var. chrysocentrus.
The history of confusion with Echinocereus nicholii has resulted in misidentification of yellow-spined individuals of E. engelmannii.
Spine color polymorphism, common within Echinocereus engelmannii, provided the original basis for varieties chrysocentrus and purpureus. The well-marked, identifiable extremes often occur in populations that include individuals easily assigned to other named varieties, or not assignable to any. L. D. Benson (1969, 1982) and subsequent authors (e.g., N. P. Taylor 1985; W. Blum et al. 1998) have attempted to recognize infraspecific taxa within E. engelmannii. However, one of those is clearly a distinct species (E. nicholii), while the remainder are either too poorly defined or too poorly known to treat fully here. At higher elevations beyond the western edge of the desert, E. engelmannii var. munzii (Parish) P. Pierce & Fosberg has been distinguished by its curving, twisting, gray spines, somewhat resembling spines of westernmost plants of E. triglochidiatus var. mojavensis. Plants of the western Sonoran Desert margin in the Mexican boundary region in California are the typical E. engelmannii var. engelmannii. Similar plants from the opposite, eastern, side of the Sonoran Desert, in Arizona, have been called E. engelmannii var. acicularis L. D. Benson. In the intervening Colorado River Valley is spinier E. engelmannii var. chrysocentrus (Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow) Rümpler. In E. engelmannii var. acicularis at the lowest altitudes, central spines are usually four, in which cases taxonomic segregation from E. engelmannii var. chrysocentrus seems arbitrary. At higher altitudes, plants of E. engelmannii var. acicularis with only one or two central spines per areole are frequent, and the abaxial central spine may be terete instead of angular and daggerlike as in E. engelmannii var. chrysocentrus. The most formidably spiny extremes of the species were segregated as E. engelmannii vars. howei and armatus; however, other individuals in the original populations (type localities) are readily assigned to E. engelmannii var. chrysocentrus. W. Blum et al. (1998) placed all of the above varieties under E. engelmannii subsp. engelmannii.
Plants smaller in all parts and with fewer central spines from north-central Arizona are Echinocereus engelmannii subsp. decumbens (Clover & Jotter) W. Blum & Mich. Lange. L. D. Benson (1969) referred those to var. variegatus (Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow) Rümpler, but the type locality of var. variegatus is in a different region. The status of E. engelmannii var. purpureus L. D. Benson remains uncertain; its similarity to unidentified diploid material found in northern Arizona suggests that it could be a separate species, but more variable than its original diagnosis allowed.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
The entire Echinocereus reichenbachii species group (E. reichenbachii, E. chisosensis, E. rigidissimus, E. pseudopectinatus, and an indefinite number of Mexican species) has unusually thin, bristlelike spines clothing the flowers and fruits as well as conspicuous, cobwebby tomentum of unusually long areolar hairs. The persistent, dry, white features of the flower tube are an essential distinction contrasting with the otherwise similar E. pectinatus species group (E. pectinatus, E. dasyacanthus, and possibly E. bonkerae), regardless of the spectacular, colorful floral displays.
The taxonomic and geographic boundaries among the segregate species or numerous proposed infraspecific taxa of Echinocereus reichenbachii remain nebulous and controversial. In no place do pure populations exist sympatrically, and all taxa appear completely interfertile. Typical E. reichenbachii is endemic to Mexico, near Saltillo, Coahuila. The common plants of E. reichenbachii in Texas, usually lacking central spines, are weakly distinguished from typical E. reichenbachii and are the basis for E. reichenbachii subsp. caespitosus. Oklahoma populations with unusually long bristlelike spines were named E. baileyi Rose [E. reichenbachii subsp. baileyi]. They intergrade, however, with the nearby, short-spined populations of E. reichenbachii. Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albispinus pertains to intermediates between E. baileyi and E. reichenbachii subsp. caespitosus. The flowers of E. reichenbachii var. fitchii are among the largest in the species, and their exact color pattern may prove taxonomically significant. Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii is somewhat morphologically and geographically intermediate between var. caespitosus and var. fitchii, but with flowers more closely resembling var. fitchii; it is sometimes considered a synonym of var. fitchii or a variety of E. fitchii Britton & Rose. The name “Echinocereus melanocentrus” appears frequently in cactus literature but has not been validly published.
Echinocereus reichenbachii is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s Collection of Endangered Plants.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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