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Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 24, fig. 24. 1922
Family: CACTACEAE
Accepted Scientific Name: Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 3: 9. 1997
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Origin and Habitat: Great Plains grassland in Colorado, New Mexico, and from central Texas to the western edge of Oklahoma.
Type locality: Big Springs, Texas.
Altitude: 1200-2000 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in dry grassland often on limestone outcrops and rimrock in bottom of valleys.
Synonyms:
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocereus perbellus Britton & Rose
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. perbellus (Britton & Rose) L.D.Benson
Echinocereus reichenbachii (Terscheck ex Walp.) Haage jr. ex Britton & Rose
Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 25. 1922 [12 Oct 1922] ; vide Gray Herb. Card Cat
Synonymy: 38
- Echinocereus reichenbachii (Terscheck ex Walp.) Haage jr. ex Britton & Rose
- Cereus reichenbachianus Labour.
- Echinocactus reichenbachianus (Terscheck) Terscheck ex Fennel
- Echinocactus reichenbachii Terscheck ex Walp.
- Echinocereus caespitosus var. reichenbachii (Terscheck ex Walp.) Borg
- Echinocereus pectinatus var. reichenbachii (Terscheck ex Walp.) Werderm.
- Echinocereus reichenbachianus hort. ex Haage
- Echinopsis pectinata var. reichenbachiana (Terscheck) Salm-Dyck
- Echinopsis reichenbachiana Pfeiff. ex C.F.Först.
- Echinocereus caespitosus var. castaneus (Engelm.) Rümpler in Förster
- Cereus caespitosus var. castaneus Engelm. in A.Gray
- Cereus reichenbachianus var. castaneus Labour.
- Echinocereus caespitosus var. major (Engelm.) Rümpler in C.F.Först.
- Cereus caespitosus var. major Engelm.
- Echinocereus caespitosus var. minor (Engelm.)
- Cereus caespitosus var. minor Engelm.
- Echinocereus pailianus
- Echinocereus reichenbachii f. albispinus hort. non Lahman
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. anigosanthus Y.Itô
- Echinocereus reichenbachii f. brevispinum hort.
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. burrensis G.Frank, Metorn & E.Scherer
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. caespitosus (Engelm.) W.Blum & Mich.Lange in W.Blum et al.
- Cereus caespitosus Engelm. & A.Gray
- Echinocereus caespitosus (Engelm.) Engelm. in Wisliz.
- Echinocereus pectinatus var. caespitosus (Engelm.) K.Schum.
- Echinocereus pectinatus f. caespitosus (Engelm.) Schelle
- Mammillaria caespitosa (Engelm.) A.Gray
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. castaneus (Engelm.) nov. comb. ined.
- Echinocereus caespitosus f. castaneus (Engelm.) Borg
- Echinocereus castaneus (Engelm.) Orcutt
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. comanchensis D.Felix, Oldach & J.Oldach
- Echinocereus reichenbachii f. cristatus hort.
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. purpureus (Lahman) D.Parker
- Echinocereus caespitosus var. purpureus (Lahman) D.Weniger
- Echinocereus purpureus Lahman
- Echinocereus rotatus Linke
- Echinocereus pectinatus var. rotatus (Linke) Linke ex Haage
- Echinocereus texensis Jacobi
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii L.D.Benson
Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 41: 127. 1969
Synonymy: 2
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii L.D.Benson
- Echinocereus fitchii subs. albertii (L.D.Benson) W.Blum & Mich.Lange in W.Blum et al.
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. armatus (Poselg. ex Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 3: 9. 1997
Synonymy: 8
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. armatus (Poselg. ex Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
- Cereus pectinatus var. armatus Poselg. ex Engelm.
- Echinocereus armatus (Poselg.) A.Berger
- Echinocereus caespitosus var. armatus (Poselg. ex Engelm.) Borg
- Echinocereus fitchii var. armatus
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. armatus (Poselg. ex Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocereus spinosus (J.M.Coult.) Borg
- Cereus pectinatus var. spinosus J.M.Coult.
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. baileyi (Rose) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 3:9. 1997
Synonymy: 13
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. baileyi (Rose) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocereus baileyi Rose
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. baileyi (Rose) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocereus baileyi var. brunispinus Backeb.
- Echinocereus baileyi var. caespiticus Backeb.
- Echinocereus longispinus Lahman
- Echinocereus mariae Backeb.
- Echinocereus oklahomensis Lahman
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albispinus (Lahman) L.D.Benson
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. fitchii (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 3: 9. 1997
Synonymy: 4
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. fitchii (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocereus fitchii Britton & Rose
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. fitchii (Britton & Rose) L.D.Benson
- Echinocereus melanocentrus J. Lowry
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 3: 9. 1997
Synonymy: 3
- Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocereus perbellus Britton & Rose
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. perbellus (Britton & Rose) L.D.Benson
ENGLISH: Lace Hedgehog Cactus, Black Lace Cactus, Beautiful Lace cactus, Purple Candle, Classem's Cactus
Description: Echinocereus reichenbachiiSN|7575]]SN|7575]] subs. perbellus (a.k.a. Echinocereus perbellusSN|7600]]SN|7600]]) is a subspecies of the very variable Echinocereus reichenbachiiSN|7575]]SN|7575]]. It has no central spine, fewer than 20 radials which are variegated, spreading and less pectinate than in E. reichenbachii. It flowers quite readily making this species a very beautiful one at flowering time, which is usually May to June.<br />
Taxonomy note: Echinocereus reichenbachiiSN|7575]]SN|7575]] subs. perbellus is at best a doubtful subspecies, and certainly not a separate species. A pure population of Echinocereus perbellusSN|7600]]SN|7600]] with 12-15 radials and no centrals, unmixed with any other population is found only near Muleshoe, Bailey County, Texas, elsewhere it usually grows associated with Echinocereus reichenbachiiSN|7575]]SN|7575]] subs. caespitosus and intermediates with spine number ranging from 12 to 30 could be found linking entirely these two entities and there are not separate species at all.
Habit: It is a low growing cactus species both solitary or forming clusters.
Stem: Erect, cylindrical or short cylindrical, 5 to 10 cm high.
Ribs: 13-15, low and broad.
Areoles: Elliptic elongated very closely set; distance between the areoles about equal to the length of the areoles themselves.
Spines: All radials, 12-15(-20), spreading but not widely, 5 to 7 mm long, pale brown to reddish or nearly white below.
Central spines: Almost always missing (or rarely 1, straight, terete).
Flowers: 1-3 per plant, diurnal, very showy, abundant, scented, pink-purple to scarlet, 4 to 6 cm long and wide; perianth-segments crimson at base, broad, oblong to oblanceolate, acuminate, nearly 4 cm. long; areoles on flower-tube very woolly as well as spiny.
Blooming season: Late April/Early May to Late June.
Fruits: Ovoid green, olive green, or dark green, fruit up to 28 mm long; fruiting 1.5-2.5 months after flowering.
Seeds: Black.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinocereus reichenbachii group
Echinocereus baileyi var. brunispinus Backeb.: No central spine with brown, intelacing, bristly, radials spines. Distribution: Oklahoma.
Echinocereus melanocentrus J. Lowry: same as: Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. fitchii
Echinocereus oklahomensis Lahman: It is one of the local forms of Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. baileyi distinguished by having 20-24 radial spines only 2 cm long and 0-2 centrals. Distribution: south-west Oklahoma.
Echinocereus pailanus Fritz Schwarz ex Backeb.: has fine-textured pinkish-red or pink-brown pectinated spines. distribution Coahuila, (Sierra Paila)?
Echinocereus reichenbachii (Terscheck ex Walp.) Haage jr. ex Britton & Rose: Small solitary or slowly branching cylindrical shaped cactus.It has 20 to 36, white to tan pectinatd radial spines held closely against the the ribs of the stems, organized in 2 series. Central spines usually absent.
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii L.D.Benson: This cactus has large, pretty pink flowers with a very dark center. It has dark cental spines 0, or 1, 2 to 3 mm long, purple-black in colour. The 14 to 20 radial spines are white with dark purple tips number, straight, closely pectinate, 3 to 6 mm long.
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albispinus (Lahman) L.D.Benson: This is a form of Echinocereus baileyi with white to delicately pinkish spines, up to 1-2 cm long.
Echinocereus reichenbachii f. albispinus hort. non Lahman: It is intermediates between Echinocereus baileyi and Echinocereus reichenbachii subsp. caespitosus. It has white neat comb-like short spination. It is one of the smaller Echinocereus species.
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. armatus (Poselg. ex Engelm.) N.P.Taylor: This cactus has large, pretty pink flowers with a clearer often greenish center. It has 1 or 2 sharpen, light brown, darkly tipped spines.
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. baileyi (Rose) N.P.Taylor: No central spine with about 16 intelacing radials spines, that are bristly spreading and variously coloured, white, yellowish, fox red, brown or pink. Distribution: Oklahoma, Texas.
Echinocereus reichenbachii f. brevispinum hort.: short spined form.
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. caespitosus (Engelm.) W.Blum & Mich.Lange in W.Blum et al.: The so called "caespitosus" is the form found in central Texas. Usually this plants lack central spines and are weakly distinguished from typical "reichenbachii".
- Echinocereus reichenbachii var. castaneus (Engelm.) nov. comb. ined.
Echinocereus reichenbachii f. cristatus hort.: Crested form.
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. fitchii (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor: has brown central spines, much longer than white radials and large flower, slightly scented, pink-purple with dark burgundy centre. Distribution: Starr, Webb, and Zapadta Co., Texas
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor: It has 0-1 central spine, fewer than 20 radials, and elliptic areoles; Range: Colorado, New Mexico, and central Texas.
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. purpureus (Lahman) D.Parker: intermediate between Echinocereus baileyi and Echinocereus caespitosus, has reddish neat comb-like spines with bright purple flowers. Distribution: Oklhoma
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Brian Loflin, Shirley Loflin “Texas Cacti: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 26/ott/2009
5) Albert Michael Powell, James F. Weedin “Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas” Texas Tech University Press, 2004
6) Del Weniger “Cacti of the Southwest: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana” University of Texas Press, 1969
7) “Rare Plants of Texas: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 2007
8) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Volume 3, 1922
9) Campbell Loughmiller “Texas Wildflowers” University of Texas Press, 2006
10) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names.” Birkhäuser 2004
11) Alfred Richardson “Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species” Texas A&M University Press, 2010
12) Lyman David Benson “The Cacti of the United States and Canada” Stanford University Press, 1982
13) Ronald C. Wittmann, William A. Weber “Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope, Third Edition: Eastern Slope, Third Edition” O'Reilly Media, Inc., 18/mag/2011
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JRT111 Bent Co., CO, 1311m. A form with robust, fat stems, short tight spines and large magenta flowers (Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present. Read More...
Cultivation and Propagation: Echinocereus reichenbachiiSN|7575]]SN|7575]] subs. perbellus is fairly easy to grow. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone) needs a very good drainage to avoid rotting, but requires more moisture than true desert cacti to grow and produce flowers.
Hardiness: It its natural environment it is very cold resistant from -10° to -25° C (depending on clones) or less for short periods of time. It can be grown outdoors in Mediterranean warm-temperate climates, But for safe cultivations needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Uses: It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering plants.
Propagation: Seeds, also can be grown from cutting as it slowly branches from the base. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
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