Xerophyte

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.