Echinocereus stramineus
Echinocereus pentalophus
strawberry hedgehog cactus
alicoche, ladyfinger cactus
weak, sprawling, soon decumbent [erect and rhizomatous], ± 10–60 × 1–2[–6] cm;
ribs 4–5, crests sharp and straight to poorly defined and undulate;
areoles 5–12 mm apart.
(3–)4–7(–9) per areole, usually very stiff and straight, yellowish, tan, ashy white to dark gray, or pale pink, tips dark, all terete;
radial spines (3–)4–6(–8) per areole, spreading, 6–37 mm;
central spines 0–1 per areole, porrect or ascending, 4–36(–60) mm.
6–10 × 7.5–10(–15) cm;
flower tube 20–25 × 8–20 mm;
flower tube hairs 3–6 mm;
inner tepals brilliant pink or magenta distally with distinct white or yellow proximal regions of variable extent [very rarely white throughout], 3.5–6 × 9–18 mm, tips relatively thin and delicate;
anthers orange-yellow;
nectar chamber 3–6 mm.
green, (10–)15–25 mm, pulp white.
= 22.
Echinocereus stramineus
Echinocereus pentalophus
Varieties 3 (1 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Our northern plants of Echinocereus pentalophus are var. procumbens (Engelmann) P. Fournier; they have often been misidentified as E. berlandieri. Both taxa have often been misidentified as the Mexican species E. blanckii [often misspelled as E. “blankii”], of confused authorship. Confusing variation of E. pentalophus has promulgated misidentifications, misapplications of names, and attempts to recognize multiple taxa.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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