Xerophyte

Description

Echinocereus scheeriSN|14354]]SN|8657]] subsp. gentryi is a odd looking dangling cactus with spines so short that the stems appear naked and cucumber-like. The trumpet-shaped flowers are pale rose and very showy.

Habitat

It is a caespitose, pendulous, or decumbent plant. Old plants may have 13 or 20 stems and are quite large and heavy.

Flowers

Trumpet-shaped up to 14 cm long, pale purplish pink, often nearly white inside. Spines on the flowers and fruits to only 3 mm long. Flowers bud sharply pointed.

Blooming Season

It is one of the early species to bloom in spring, flowers remain fully open most of the day and night (or partially closing during the hottest part of the day).

Spines

Absent or minute white to cream. The spineless variety is often referred to as Echinocereus cucumisSN|8657]]SN|14354]].

Ribs

4 to 5 rounded not tuberculate.

Stem

30-60 cm long, but occasionally as long as 1 metre, the old parts coriaceous.

Fruits

Ovoid up to 2 cm long, bright green with white pulp, splitting along one side, with easily detaching spines.

Areoles

Closely spaced, about 2-7 mm apart.