Xerophyte

Note

A spineless form (Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. mojavensis f. inermisSN|8373]]SN|32836]]) has been applied at various taxonomic ranks to individual plants with spines absent, or nearly so, in the eastern portion of var. mojavensis, mainly found in the mountains and mesas of western Colorado and eastern Utah. On these plants, areoles may have very few spines, and some stems can be almost completely spineless. But the same plant will have spined stems and many spines per areole in another area.

Mojavensis is named for the Mojave River, but the species is not restricted to that region.

Flowers

Solitary, perfect, emerging from near the tip of individual stems. Flowers are rather narrow, funnel-shaped, orange to red, and about 5-7(-9) cm long. Perianth-segments broad, obtuse or evenretuse.Areoles on ovary with white felt and short acicular spines.

Spines

The spines are usually 5-11 per areole, all white, or in age grey, round in cross section, about curved (almost wavy), twisting, slightly rough under magnification and often interlocking with those of neighboring stems to form a dense web of spines covering the mound. Radial spines about 5-10, acicular, spreading,curved, 1 to 2.5 cm long. Central spine one (or two), light coloured, subulate, porrect or somewhat spreading, usually twisting, often weak, 3 to 5 cm long. Central and radial spines are difficult to distinguish.

Ribs

8 to 14, 5 to 6 mm high, but becoming indistinct on old parts of stem, somewhat undulate.

Stem

Usually erect, occurring in clumps, densely packed, globose to cylindrical up to about 5-20(-45) cm tall, each usually less than about 5 cm in diameter, pale green to bluish green.

Fruits

oblong to cylindrical, about 2-3.5 cm long, 1,5 cm in diameter. Green or yellow-green, reddish when ripe, spines deciduous. Juicy and edible, pulp white. Fruiting

Areoles

Circular, white, 10-40 mm apart, and somewhat woolly.