Echinocereus fendleri
Encyclopedia
Echinocereus fendleri is a species of cactus
known by the common names pinkflower hedgehog cactus and Fendler's hedgehog cactus. It grows in deserts and woodlands in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is most common in New Mexico
.
This cactus has an erect oval or cylindrical stem, sometimes forming a clump of several spreading stem branches. The stem may reach 7.5 to 30 centimeters in maximum height. There are up to 16 spines per areole
, generally in shades of brown and white, or white with a brown stripe. The showy flower is most any shade of pink, from nearly white to deep maroon
. It can be 11 centimeters long and wide, each tepal
measuring up to 7 centimeters long. The fruit is red and a few centimeters long. The flesh of the plant is edible, and Native American
groups consumed the stems and fruits.
The taxonomy
of the species is uncertain, with authors recognizing up to eight varieties.
One variety of this species, var. kuenzleri (Kuenzler's hedgehog cactus, formerly Echinocereus kuenzleri) is rare and federally listed as an endangered species of the United States. When it was listed in 1979, there were only 200 known individuals of this variety remaining, all in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. It was threatened with extinction
by poachers
, who removed many plants from the wild. More populations have since been discovered. The US Fish and Wildlife Service
has suggested it be downlisted to threatened status. Kuenzler's hedgehog cactus differs from other varieties of the species by having large flowers, reaching 11 centimeters long and magenta
in color, and white spines.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
known by the common names pinkflower hedgehog cactus and Fendler's hedgehog cactus. It grows in deserts and woodlands in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is most common in 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...
.
This cactus has an erect oval or cylindrical stem, sometimes forming a clump of several spreading stem branches. The stem may reach 7.5 to 30 centimeters in maximum height. There are up to 16 spines per areole
Areole
Areoles are an important diagnostic feature of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. The areoles on cacti are clearly visible; they generally appear as small light- to dark-colored bumps, out of which grow clusters of spines...
, generally in shades of brown and white, or white with a brown stripe. The showy flower is most any shade of pink, from nearly white to deep maroon
Maroon
Maroon, marooning, or marooned may refer to:* Maroon , a dark shade of red* Maroon , runaway slaves, of African origin, in the Americas* Marooning, the act of leaving someone on a deserted island-Music:...
. It can be 11 centimeters long and wide, each 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...
measuring up to 7 centimeters long. The fruit is red and a few centimeters long. The flesh of the plant is edible, and Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
groups consumed the stems and fruits.
The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of the species is uncertain, with authors recognizing up to eight varieties.
One variety of this species, var. kuenzleri (Kuenzler's hedgehog cactus, formerly Echinocereus kuenzleri) is rare and federally listed as an endangered species of the United States. When it was listed in 1979, there were only 200 known individuals of this variety remaining, all in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. It was threatened with extinction
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
by poachers
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
, who removed many plants from the wild. More populations have since been discovered. The US Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
has suggested it be downlisted to threatened status. Kuenzler's hedgehog cactus differs from other varieties of the species by having large flowers, reaching 11 centimeters long and magenta
Magenta
Magenta is a color evoked by light stronger in blue and red wavelengths than in yellowish-green wavelengths . In light experiments, magenta can be produced by removing the lime-green wavelengths from white light...
in color, and white spines.