Echinocactus
| Echinocactus | |
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| Echinocactus grusonii | |
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| Genus: | Echinocactus |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Brittonrosea Speg. | |
Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae.[1] The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος (echinos), meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.
Perhaps the best known species is the golden barrel (Echinocactus grusonii) from Mexico, an easy-to-grow and widely cultivated plant. Though common in the houseplant and landscape industry, the golden barrel has become very rare in habitat.
Selected species
- Echinocactus grusonii Hildm. – Golden Barrel Cactus
- Echinocactus horizonthalonius Lem. – Devil's Head, Silverbell Cactus, Turk's Head Cactus
- Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. horizonthalonius
- Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nicholii L.D.Benson
- Echinocactus parryi
- Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto – Giant Barrel Cactus
- Echinocactus polycephalus Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow – Cottontop Cactus
- Echinocactus polycephalus var. polycephalus
- Echinocactus polycephalus var. xeranthemoides J.M.Coult.
- Echinocactus texensis Hopffer – Horse Crippler, Devil's Pincushion[2][3]
Formerly placed here
- Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem. (as E. asterias Zucc.)
- Aztekium ritteri (Boed.) Boed. (as E. ritteri Boed.)
- Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britton & Rose (as E. wislizeni Engelm.)
- Lophophora williamsii (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) J.M.Coult. (as E. williamsii Lem. ex Salm-Dyck)
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus (Backeb.) A.D.Zimm. (as E. subterraneus Backeb.)[2]
References
- ^ a b c "Genus: Echinocactus Link & Otto". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ^ a b "GRIN Species Records of Echinocactus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ^ "Echinocactus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- Innes C, Wall B (1995). Cacti, Succulents and Bromeliads. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society.
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