Giant claret-cup cactus, Salmon-flowered hedgehog, Spiny hedgehog
Echinocereus polyacanthus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It occurs singly or can be branched. It can form clumps of up to 400 stems. The stems are cylinder shaped and taper towards the tip and base. They are erect and rich green. They are 10-30 cm long and 2-7.5 cm wide. There are 9-13 ribs. There are 1-7 brown central spines surrounded by 6-14 spines. The flowers are near the stem tips. They are funnel shaped. They are orange or red with yellow or white throats. They are 3-14 cm long and 2-8 cm wide. The fruit are oval and green with a white pulp.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cereus polycanthus Engelm.; Echinopsis valida var. densa Regel; Echinocereus polycanthus var. densus (Regel) N.P. Taylor; Cereus acifer Otto ex Salm-Dyck; Echinocereus acifer (Otto ex Salm-Dyck) F. Haage; Echinocereus polyacanthus subsp. acifer (Otto ex Salm-Dyck) N.P. Taylor; Cereus phoenicus var. pacificus Engel.; Echinocereus pacificus (Engel.) F. Haage; Echinocereus polyacanthus var. pacificus (Engel.) N.P. Taylor; Echinocereus polyacanthus subsp. pacificus (Engel.) Breckwoldt; Echinocereus durangensis Rumpler ex Forster; Cereus huitcholensis F.A.C. Weber; Echinocereus huitcholensis (F.A.C. Weber) Gurke; Echinocereus polyacanthus var. huitcholensis (F.A.C. Weber)N.P. Taylor; Echinocereus acifer subsp. huitcholensis (F.A.C. Weber)Lange; Echinocereus polyacanthus subsp. huitcholensis (F.A.C. Weber)N.P. Taylor; Echinocereus matthesianus Backerberg; Echinocereus marksianus Schwarz ex Backeberg; Echinocereus mombergerianus G. Frank; Echinocereus polyacanthus subsp. mombergerianus (G. Frank) Breckwoldt; Echinocereus pacificus subsp. mombergerianus (G. Frank) Blum & Rutow; Echinocereus acifer subsp. tubiflorus W. Rischer; Echinocereus santaritensis Blum & Rutow;