Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Encyclopedia
Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a species of hedgehog cactus
known by several common names, including Kingcup cactus, Claretcup, and Mojave mound cactus. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland. It is most abundant in shady areas.
There are a number of varieties of this highly variable cactus species, but not all are universally recognized. In general it is a mounding cactus, forming bulbous piles of few to hundreds of spherical to cylindrical stems. It is densely spiny and somewhat woolly. The showy flower is a funnel shaped bloom up to 8 or 9 centimeters wide and bright scarlet red to orange-red tepal
s. There is a thick nectar chamber and many thready pink stamen
s at the center of the corolla. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbird
s.
One variety, var. arizonicus, is federally listed as an endangered species
in the United States. It is limited to the intersection of Arizona
and New Mexico
in the United States with Mexico. This variety is sometimes included within Echinocereus coccineus.
The conservation status of several subspecies differs from that displayed. Examples include:
Echinocereus
Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, comprising about 70 species from the southern United States and Mexico in very sunny rocky places...
known by several common names, including Kingcup cactus, Claretcup, and Mojave mound cactus. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland. It is most abundant in shady areas.
There are a number of varieties of this highly variable cactus species, but not all are universally recognized. In general it is a mounding cactus, forming bulbous piles of few to hundreds of spherical to cylindrical stems. It is densely spiny and somewhat woolly. The showy flower is a funnel shaped bloom up to 8 or 9 centimeters wide and bright scarlet red to orange-red tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s. There is a thick nectar chamber and many thready pink stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s at the center of the corolla. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s.
One variety, var. arizonicus, is federally listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
in the United States. It is limited to the intersection of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in the United States with Mexico. This variety is sometimes included within Echinocereus coccineus.
The conservation status of several subspecies differs from that displayed. Examples include:
Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus Arizona hedgehog cactus (Endangered)
Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. melanacanthus Black-Spine claret-cup hedgehog (Salvage restricted)
Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. neomexicanus Mexican claret-cup hedgehog (Salvage restricted)