Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 7, yellowish or brown, expanded basally, straight, elongated, becoming grey as they age, reaching up to 5 cm long, but variable in length.

Description

Nowadays Echinocereus plomosusSN|7070]]SN|15744]] is considered none other than a form of the very variable species, Echinocereus polyacanthusSN|15744]]SN|7070]].It is a highly branching plant that forms large clumps and blooms abundantly, just as a small specimen .

Flowers

Diurnal, arising near the stem's apex, tubular to funnel-form, brilliant deep red with a yellowish or whitish colored throat, 10 cm long, 5-6 cm in diameter. Floral remains are difficult to detach from the plant and can set up stem rot.

Blooming Season

Apr-Jun, the flowers remain open for 2 or 3 days. Blooming generally begins 4 to 5 years after sowing, as the plant matures.

Ribs

9 to 13, usually 10 well defined ones, low, either tuberculate or not.

Stem

Light green, cylindrical, tapering towards the tip, each stem 10-20 cm tall, 4-5 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

6 to 17 (usually about 12), dirty white to brownish, overlapping, up to 1 cm long but often much shorter.

Areoles

Approximately 1-1.5 cm apart, and somewhat woolly.