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Echinocereus pacificus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Echinocereus pacificus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Echinocereus
Species:
E. pacificus
Binomial name
Echinocereus pacificus
Synonyms
  • Cereus phoeniceus var. pacificus Engelm. 1886
  • Echinocereus polyacanthus subsp. pacificus (Engelm.) Breckw. 1996
  • Echinocereus polyacanthus var. pacificus (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor 1984
  • Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. pacificus (Engelm.) Bravo 1978
  • Echinocereus triglochidiatus subsp. pacificus (Engelm.) U.Guzmán 2003

Echinocereus pacificus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

Description

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Echinocereus pacificus grows solitary, in clumps of 30-60 cm in diameter containing around 100 stems. Stems are cylindrical to elongated shoots 5 to 6 cm (2.0 to 2.4 in) long, with 10 to 12 ribs and a 4 to 5, strong, upright central spine that is white or light gray with a darker tip, measuring 25 mm (0.98 in) in length. Additionally, there are 10 to 12 spreading, straight, whitish or grayish radial spines that are 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) long. The flowers of are cup-shaped and deep red orange and {cvt|2.5 to 4|cm}} in diameter. They appear in the upper half of the shoots. The spherical, fleshy fruits are spiny, 1.2 to 1.6 mm (0.047 to 0.063 in) long.[2] Chromosome count is 4n=44[3]

Subspecies

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There are two recognized subspecies:[4]

Image Scientific name Distribution
Echinocereus pacificus subsp. mombergerianus (G.Frank) W.Blum, W.Rischer & Rutow Mexico (N. Baja California)
Echinocereus pacificus subsp. pacificus Mexico (NW. Baja California)

Distribution

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Plants are found growing on granite slopes and xeric scrub in Baja California, Mexico at elevations around 110 to 2600 meters. Plants are found growing along with Adenostoma fasciculatum, Stipa speciosa, Arctostaphylos peninsularis, Dudleya pulverulenta, Lotus rigidus, Nolina microcarpa, Pinus monophylla, Rhamnus crocea, Opuntia phaeacantha, Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, Pinus quadrifolia, Ferocactus viridescens and Malosma laurina.[5]

Taxonomy

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The plant was first described by George Engelmann in 1886 as Cereus phoeniceus var. pacificus. It was elevated to a species in 1922 by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose.

References

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  1. ^ Baker, M. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Echinocereus pacificus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152781A121488043. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152781A121488043.en.
  2. ^ Britton, N.L.; Rose, J.N. (1963). The Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Famil. Dover Publications, Incorporated. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-486-21192-3. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  3. ^ Baker, M. (2006). "A new florally dimorphic hexaploid, Echinocereus yavapaiensis sp. nov. (section Triglochidiatus, Cactaceae) from central Arizona". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 258 (1–2): 63–83. doi:10.1007/s00606-005-0390-9. ISSN 0378-2697.
  4. ^ "Echinocereus pacificus (Engelm.) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  5. ^ Rose, Britton &. "Echinocereus pacificus". Consortium of Midwest Herbaria (in Latin). Retrieved 2024-07-31.
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