Xerophyte

Central Spines

5-9, stout, straight, to 7 cm long.

Description

Echinocereus barthelowanusSN|7505]]SN|21867]] is a fiercely spined cactus with stems always growing in clusters and forming large cushions up to 80 cm wide. The branches are attached to each other with such fragile connections that a compact cluster will fall to pieces in handling, and often larger clusters are thought being groups of seedling rather than single branched plants. Echinocereus barthelowanusSN|21867]]SN|21867]] is a poorly known cactus.

Similar Species

Echinocereus barthelowanusSN|21867]]SN|21867]] is closely related and similar to Echinocereus brandegeeiSN|21867]]SN|7505]] (a.k.a. “Casa de rata”) but it has longer and more attractive interlacing spines. If not in flowers it is also very difficult to certainly distinguish from Cochemeia halei.

Flowers

Broadly funnelform, lavender, arising from near the stem tips to the bases, only 10 to 50 mm long and less than 6 cm in diameter; perianth-segments oblong, 3 to 4 mm long, ovary minute, strongly tubercled, hidden under the mass of spines; spine-clusters on ovary with 6 to 1 2 white or pinkish tipped spines, half as long as the flower.

Spines

Numerous, acicular, dagger-like, not clearly differentiated into radials and centrals, sometimes 7 cm long, pinkish to red when quite young, afterwards white or yellow with brown or blackish tips, in age fading to black or grey.

Ribs

8-10, somewhat tuberculate below, but completely hidden by the stout numerous spines.

Stem

Cylindric, 10-20(30) cm long, 3,5 to 5 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

As many as 18, usually 1-2 cm long.

Areoles

Large, approximate, 2 to 5 mm apart, white felted when young.