Xerophyte

Central Spines

Very slender light-colored 8 to 12 often in two rows.

Description

Echinocereus grandisSN|21834]]SN|21834]] is one of the largest of the upright-stemmed hedgehog cacti, It is solitary, or occasionally branched to form small clusters up to 15 stems, the branches grows from the base. It is not the longest-stemmed, but it is the most massive. The stems sometimes lay down under their own weight. Plants in cultivation often grows for a long time with single solitary columnar stems.

Flowers

Diurnal, narrowly funnelform, white or pale yellow with greenish base, unusually narrow, 5-8 cm in diameter, 5-7 cm long, near the stem tips. The plants coming from San Lorenzo Island often have rosy-coloured to pink/violet flowers. The pericarpel is densely covered with straw coloured spines and white hairs. Filaments green, style white, stigma lobes green. Floral remains are difficult to detach from the plant and can set up stem rot.

Blooming Season

It flowers annually in March-April, the flowers remain open for 2 or 3 days. Blooming generally begins 7 to 10 years after sowing, as the plant matures.

Spines

Dull white to cream-coloured quite short, spreading, and stiff.

Ribs

(18 to) 21 to 25 low.

Stem

Sub-cylindric,10-50 cm tall, 8-12 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

15 to 25 radials, 1-10 mm long pressed next to the skin.

Fruits

The fruits are very spiny.

Areoles

Large, elongated, close-set approx 1 cm apart.