Echinocereus stramineus
Echinocereus nicholii
strawberry hedgehog cactus
golden hedgehog cactus, Nichol's hedgehog cactus
erect to ascending, cylindric or somewhat tapering distally, 20–30(–70) × (4–)6–9 cm;
ribs 10–13, crests slightly undulate;
areoles 15–25 mm apart.
13–16 per areole, usually straight, divergent-porrect, pale translucent yellow;
radial spines 8–12 per areole, 5–25 mm;
central spines 4–6(–8) per areole, 30–72 mm, abaxial central spine usually descending, paler than other central spines, often fading whitish, somewhat flattened.
4–6 × 5–7 cm;
flower tube 18–25 × 12–30 mm;
flower tube hairs 1 mm;
inner tepals usually pale pink with midstripes slightly darker, proximal 1/3 greenish, 30–40 × 5–10 mm, tips relatively thin and delicate;
anthers yellow;
nectar chamber to 7 mm.
green, becoming bronze where exposed to sun, 23–34 mm, pulp white.
= 22.
Echinocereus stramineus
Echinocereus nicholii
Varieties 3 (1 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Although it was initially considered a variety of Echinocereus engelmannii, E. nicholii differs in chromosome number and a suite of morphologic characteristics. With its non-erumpent flower buds, diploid chromosome number, relatively small and usually pale flowers, green fruits, and exclusively yellow spines, E. nicholii more closely resembles E. ledingii than E. engelmannii.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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