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Notes for the Genus:

Echinomastus

Etymology -From the Greek echinos meaning spiny and mastos meaning breast - spiny breast - referring to the tubercles.
Another denizen of the Southwestern United States and nearby Mexico is the genus Echinomastus. This is a relatively small group of cacti (5-9 species, according to Powell and Weedin, 2004) that are short, elongated globular plants. The stems seldom branch and for the most part do not exceed 12 inches in height. The stems are typically very heavily spined to the point of obscuring the stems. The spines rise from areoles on distinct tubercles arranged in rows. There exists a groove on the tubercles and extrafloral nectaries are sometimes present. Flowers are red, pink, cream-colored or even brownish and funnel shaped. The diurnal flowers, originating from the tips of the tubercles, come from the apex of the plant often fighting their way through a tangle of spines. The fruits dehisce either at the bottom or longitudinally when ripe.

The status of the genus Echinomastus is uncertain. In The New Cactus Lexicon (2006), the genus has been eliminated and all species placed under Sclerocactus. In The Cactus Family (2001), Anderson retains Echinomastus because of Porter's research (1999) showing distinct molecular differences from Sclerocactus.

Click on one of the species below for more info.

Echinomastus erectocentrus

Echinomastus erectocentrus


     37 images

Taxa Included:
   E. erectocentrus -
19 images

   E. erectocentrus acunensis -
18 images


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Echinomastus gautii

Echinomastus gautii


     No images

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Echinomastus intertextus

Echinomastus intertextus


     11 images

Taxa Included:
   E. intertextus -
9 images

   E. intertextus dasyacanthus -
2 images


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Echinomastus johnsonii

Echinomastus johnsonii


     36 images

Taxa Included:
   E. johnsonii -
25 images

   E. johnsonii lutescens -
11 images


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Echinomastus mariposensis

Echinomastus mariposensis


     14 images

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Echinomastus unguispinus

Echinomastus unguispinus


     15 images

Taxa Included:
   E. unguispinus -
5 images

   E. unguispinus laui -
10 images


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Echinomastus warnockii

Echinomastus warnockii


     12 images

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*Currently 7 of 7 known species in this genus are represented on CactiGuide.com.
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