Xerophyte

Central Spines

Erect 6 to 8 up to 1 cm long. (but central spines are usually hardly distinguishable from the radials)

Description

Habit

Note

This species is very similar to E. grandis and it is uncertain of whether they are in fact one or two species.

Flowers

Diurnal, arising near the stem's apex, funnelform, the colour varies from whitish (for plants ex Isla San Esteban), to pale pink, deep-pink or violet (for forms found on the other islands of San Lorenzo, Nolasco Island and Las Animas, in the Gulf of California) or occasionally yellowish. The throat is white or yellow. The flowers are relatively short-tubed and small for an Echinocereus , up to 6 cm long, 3(-4) cm in diameter. Floral remains are difficult to detach from the plant and can set up stem rot.

Blooming Season

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

Spines

Golden yellow becoming brownish with age (occasionally white), needle-like, fragile, slightly recurved.

Stem

Columnar, light green, , about 6-8 cm in diameter up to about 60 cm long with 18 to 24 low well defined ribs sometimes tuberculate, the branches grows from the base.

Radial Spines

Spreading, about 10 to 14.

Areoles

close-set