| Echinocereus sciurus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Endangered (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Echinocereus |
| Species: | E. sciurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Echinocereus sciurus (K.Brandegee) Dams 1904 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Echinocereus sciurus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.
Description
Echinocereus sciurus grows like a groundcover, forming clusters up to 60 cm (24 in) wide. The slender shoots, often up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long, are almost hidden by numerous thorns. It has 12 to 17 low ribs, divided into tubercles spaced 5 to 6 mm (0.20 to 0.24 in) apart. The 15 to 18 slender radial spines, pale with brownish tips, are arranged in a circle with small areoles. Several central spines are shorter and have a brown sloping spine. The funnel-shaped flowers are light to deep purple-pink, up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long, and 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter, with numerous stamens having greenish filaments and a green stigma.
Subspecies
There are two recognized subspecies:
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Echinocereus sciurus subsp. floresii (Backeb.) N.P.Taylor | Mexico (NW. Sonora) | |
| Echinocereus sciurus subsp. sciurus | Mexico (S. Baja California Sur) |
Distribution
Echinocereus sciurus is found in the Sonoran Desert in Baja California Sur and Sinaloa, Mexico, at elevations between 10 and 200 meters. Plants are found growing along with Pachycereus pringlei, Stenocereus thurberi, Lophocereus schottii, Ferocactus townsendianus, Echinocereus barthelowianus, Peniocereus johnstonii, Stenocereus gummosus, Cochemiea schumannii, Cochemiea armillata, and Mammillaria peninsularis.
Taxonomy
Originally described as Cereus sciurus by Mary Katharine Brandegee in 1904, the species name 'sciurus' means 'squirrel,' referring to the color and texture of the spines. Erich Dams reclassified it under the genus Echinocereus in the same year.
References
- León de la Luz, J.L.; Hernández, H.M.; Gómez-Hinostrosa, C. (2013). "Echinocereus sciurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T152547A649611. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152547A649611.en.
- Anderson, Edward F. (2011). Das große Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-3-8001-5964-2.
- "Echinocereus sciurus (Brandegee) Dams". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- "Echinocereus sciurus". LLIFLE. 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
- "Zoe". Zoe Publishing Co. 1905. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- "Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde". J. Neumann. 1904. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- Korotkova, Nadja; Aquino, David; Arias, Salvador; Eggli, Urs; Franck, Alan; Gómez-Hinostrosa, Carlos; Guerrero, Pablo C.; Hernández, Héctor M.; Kohlbecker, Andreas; Köhler, Matias; Luther, Katja; Majure, Lucas C.; Müller, Andreas; Metzing, Detlev; Nyffeler, Reto; Sánchez, Daniel; Schlumpberger, Boris; Berendsohn, Walter G. (2021-08-31). "Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org – a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family". Willdenowia. 51 (2). doi:10.3372/wi.51.51208. ISSN 0511-9618.
External links
Media related to Echinocereus sciurus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Echinocereus sciurus at Wikispecies
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Echinocereus sciurus |
|
| Cereus sciurus | |