Xerophyte

Central Spines

0 to 3 (more often 1) dark, becoming lighter with age, rigid, straight or curved up to 4 cm long, porrect or ascending, if curved, then usually directed upward, abaxial central spine like others in colour or darker, flat to sharply angled. In some areloes accompanied by short accessory centrals.

Description

Echinocereus fendleriSN|8022]]SN|7149]] is a wide ranging and variable species with an indefinite number of geographic races. It is a low growing , scrubby cactus, that grows solitary or in small clumps with 5 to 20 stems. The classic fendleri form has huge violet-purple flowers and attractive white/black spination. All varieties have large red delicious edible fruits.

Note

Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleriSN|7149]]SN|8022]] has short conical stems up to 15 cm long and 10 cm in diameter, no central spine; 2 to 6 radials about 2.5 cm long and magenta flowers up to 10 cm long.

Flowers

Close to the stem tips, funnelform, 7 cm in diameter purple-violet (sometime pink to almost white) throat sometimes darker or purplish maroon, tips relatively thin and delicate. The stigma is green, and there is a very large number of stamens.

Blooming Season

April to June.

Ribs

9 to 13, uninterrupted or sometimes wavy, with sinus between areoles.

Stem

10 to 30 cm tall, 5 to 7 cm in diameter somewhat flaccid erect or slightly decumbent, ovoid to cylindric with age.

Radial Spines

(2 to) 5 to 11 radials, 3 to 20 mm long, spreading, opaquely white, commonly with dark stripe on underside, often with contrasting black or brown spines in same areoles (rarely all brown or all white)

Fruits

2,5-5 cm long, 12 mm in diameter, edible, bright red, dull carmine, or purplish maroon, less often orange-tan or purplish orange, pulp magenta or red.

Areoles

Circular areoles 8 to 17 mm apart.