Echinocactus

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.

Echinocactus
Echinocactus grusonii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Core eudicots
Order:
Caryophyllales
Family:
Cactaceae
Subfamily:
Cactoideae
Tribe:
Cacteae
Genus:
Echinocactus

Type species
Echinocactus platyacanthus
Species

See text

Synonyms

Brittonrosea Speg.
Echinofossulocactus Lawr.
Homalocephala Britton & Rose[1]

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.

Species

As of 2020, the genus includes 6 accepted species out of hundreds of plants having the name.[2]

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Echinocactus grusonii Hildm.Golden Barrel CactusQuerétaro, and in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico
Echinocactus horizonthalonius Lem.Devil's Head, Silverbell Cactus, Turk's Head CactusGolden Barrel Cactussouthwestern United States and northern Mexico
Echinocactus parryi Engelm., 1856 horse crippler or devil's pincushionMexican state of Chihuahua
Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & OttoGiant Barrel CactusMexico in the Chihuahuan Desert
Echinocactus polycephalus Engelm. & J.M.BigelowCottontop CactusMojave Desert region of Arizona, California, and Nevada, and northern Sonora, Mexico.
Echinocactus texensis HopfferHorse Crippler, Devil's Pincushion[3][4]United States and Mexico.

Formerly placed here

References
  1. "Genus: Echinocactus Link & Otto". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  2. "Echinocactus". The Plant List. Missouri Botanical Garden. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "GRIN Species Records of Echinocactus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  4. "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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