Very nice, frilly, purple-pink flowers. Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family) Scientific name: Echinocereus adustus Engelm. Origin: Mexico, Chihuahua: Cusihuiriachic, Sahuirachic and north of city of Chihuahua Habitat: Desert grassland, on loamy soils, on stony hills, altitude 1800-2400m Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.
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| Description: Usually solitary. Stem: Green, short, cylindrical, up to 20 cm tall 4(12) cm in diameter. Ribs: 11 to16, 5-12 mm long Root: Fibrous. Areoles: Ellipsoidal, length 3–4mm, width 2 mm, close set, distance 4-7 mm, at first woolly, then naked. Radial spines: 5-18, pectinated 16-23 mm long. Cream with darker tips add-pressed. Central spines: 0 - 1, up to 35 mm long, brown-black, stiff and straight. Flowers: Magenta-pink, throat a lighter shade, 45-60 mm long, 40-55 mm wide. Tube length 20-40 mm, filament 15-25 mm long, stylus 25-40 mm, yellow, stigma lobes 5-6 yellowish-green. Fruit: Ovoidal, brownish-green, length15, diameter 10. They dry and break at maturity and ripe in 2 months. Seed: 1-1,5 mm black. Central spines: Adult plants, either without central spines, or with 1 central spine can be found. But with the exception of the absence or existence of centrals, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical, namely size and form of ribs, number, size and arrangement of radial spines, flowers, fruits and seeds. Furthermore this species is one of those Echinocereus which pass a purely radial-spined long youth stage, in which they are already floriferous. Most of the plants after several years develop central spines, giving the plant its sea urchin appearance. | |
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| Cultivation: In culture E. adustus is without problems, easy to grow, very attractive and regularly shows its beautiful flowers, if provided with an adequate winter rest period. It is sensitive to over-watering (rot prone), and needs good drainage. Keep drier and cool in winter. Needs full sun. In the summer they need an airy location in bright sun; well watered when it's hot. To achieve the best spine density give these plants lots of sun. In the winter light, cool, and absolutely dry conditions. Very cold resistant above -12° C or less for short periods of time. In mild climate they grow well when planted freely outside in well-drained soil. Propagation: Seeds (usually), it also can be grown from cuttings, as it can branch from the base. | |
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