Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually several (1-6), a little stouter but shorter than the radials the longer of which rarely reaching 15 mm, very slender.

Seeds

1 mm long, tuberculate.

Description

Echinocereus sciurusSN|8681]]SN|8681]] is a densely cespitose cactus species, with numerous short, upright heads covered with slender short spines, with many individuals forming clumps sometimes 60 cm broad. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. floresii (Backeb.) N.P.Taylor.

Roots

Tuberous.

Flowers

Though normally found at the end of the stems just below the stem tips, flowers may also occur down the sides of the plant 5-8 cm long, 7-12 cm in expansion when fully open. Ovary and tube densely spinose. Inner perianth-segments in 2 to 4 rows, bright pinkish magenta or magenta, paler towards the base the tips erose, acute, the outer surface marked with numerous striations. Stamens numerous, with greenish filaments and yellow anthers. Pistil green with obtuse stigma-lobes. Flower-buds covered with numerous slender brown-tipped spines.

Spines

18-22, not differentiated as centrals and radials, slender, brownish to whitish, mostly flattened.

Ribs

12 to 17, low, on the growth of the year often entirely divided into numerous tubercles 5 to 6 mm Apart

Stem

Slender, short, mostly erect, cylindrical, tapered toward the tips, often 20 cm long, nearly hidden by the many spines.

Radial Spines

15 to 18, slender, 3-16 mm long, grey on the older parts, pale yellowish brown except the brownish tip, with darker tips on the young growth.

Fruits

Subglobose, reddish green with white pulp.

Areoles

Small, approximate, circular, at first woolly, becoming naked 5-8 mm. apart on the same rib.