Xerophyte

Central Spines

0 to 7, but usually absent. If present usually only 1 central standing straight out, or 2 centrals, one above the other; these stout, firm, small, like the radials,0.5-6 mm long (rarely more), often darker yellowish with a brown tip, at first, whitish on older areoles.

Seeds

Black, nearly globose, 1.2 to 1.4 mm. in diameter.

Description

Echinocereus reichenbachiiSN|7575]]SN|7575]] is a slowly branching cylindrical shaped cactus more or less cespitose with up to 12 branches covered strongly pectinate, appressed truly lacy spines. The flowers are very showy, fragrant, produced in profusion, rather variable as to size, often 6 to 7 cm long and fully as broad, opening during the day, always closing at night and sometimes opening the second day, purple. The basis of flowers are clothed with dense greyish wool. It is a distinct species with six subspecies

Flowers

Beautiful, very large, abundant, diurnal, scented, intense pink to purple, 5 to 12 cm long and fully as broad. Flower tube 22-40 × 10-30 mm covered with white, cobwebby wool, 5-15 mm long, and clusters of 10-14 very fine, hairlike, white, grey, or black spines c 6 mm long. Outer segments lengthen gradually, with greenish or brownish mi lines and pink edges. Inner perianth-segments 30-50 (or more) narrow, often reflexed, silvery pink to magenta, usually white, crimson, green, or multicoloured at base, 23-40 × 5-15 mm, tips relatively thin, delicate rather blunt to almost entire and definitely pointed, the margin more or less ragged, often notched. Filaments pinkish or reddish fading above; anthers cream-colored to yellow. Nectar chamber 2-5 mm. Style long reddish or pinkish, crowned by 8-22 large, dark green stigma lobes.

Blooming Season

Early May to Late June.

Chromosome Number

2n = 22.

Ribs

10-19 narrow, definite, straight or slightly undulate divided into distinct tubercles.

Stem

Erect, simple or commonly branched to form cluster of up to 12 upright stems, globose when very young, elongate or short cylindrical when mature, (2.5)7-20(-40) cm tall, (2,5-) 5-9(-10) cm in diameter dark green.

Radial Spines

20 to 36, rigid, slender, straight, spreading to slightly curved, held closely against the the ribs of the stems, organized in 2 series, pectinately arranged or nearly so, 5 to 8 mm long. Top ones very tiny, almost bristlelike; laterals more robust; lower 1-3 somewhat smaller; spines of adjacent clusters often interlocking. Multi-coloured, white to tan, dull pink, dark brown, or purplish black, white with brown tips, yellowish with brown tips, or outer half black or purplish; spines of any single areole never variegated, but usually those of each individual plant of one colour.

Fruits

Ovoid or almost spherical, green, olive green, or dark green, 10-28 mm long, covered with slender spines and wool, fruiting 1.5-2.5 months after flowering.

Areoles

Elliptic elongated vertically, approximate, 1.5-3 mm long, 1-6(-10) mm apart, quite woolly when young, and bare when older