Echinocereus cinerascens
Cact. 56, nomen. 1868 [ see also: H.P.Kelsey & Dayton in Standard. Pl. Names, ed. 2. 71. 1942 ]
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Echinocereus cinerascens
Author
(DC.) Lem.
Chinese genus
鹿角柱属
Chinese name
-
DescriptionEdit description
Central Spines
1 to 4 (- 6), mostly 2-4,5 cm long.
Description
Echinocereus cinerascensSN|7817]]SN|7775]] is an open, caespitose cactus that produce masses of bright pink or purple blooms up to 12 cm in diameter which finally produce edible and delicious fruits (tastes similar to strawberries just like Echinocereus engelmannii and Echinocereus stramineusSN|7775]]SN|7817]] do). It is quite variable.
Habitat
Growing in patches 6 to 12 dm broad, branching at base, the stems semi-erect, ascending to decumbent about 3 dm tall.
Flowers
Large, boadly funnel.shaped, including ovary, 6 to 8 cm long and up to 12 cm in diameter, pink to purple open petaled, usually with paler yellow, cream or green throat. They come from the side areoles. The tube very short; scales on ovary and tube small, acute, their axils crowded with short white wool and 6 to 8 long white bristles; inner perianth-segments, when dry, deep purple, 3 to 4 cm long, obtuse, stamens short.
Spines
7-16 white or pale, straight, rough, 1,5 to 2 cm long.
Ribs
5 to 8 (-12) blunt prominent, obtuse, slightly warty or evenly edged;
Stem
Soft, pale green (that redden in full sun and with freezing climate), cylindrical, 10-30 cm tall (rarely up to 60 cm), (1,5-)4-10(-12) cm in diameter; erect or slightly prostrate as they age.
Radial Spines
7-10 variable in length from 1 to 5,5 cm
Fruits
Nearly spherical, greenish spiny 2-3 cm in diameter.
Areoles
Circular largely spaced.