Echinocactus

Echinocactus
Echinocactus grusonii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Echinocactus
Link & Otto[1]
Species

See text

Synonyms

Brittonrosea Speg.
Echinofossulocactus Lawr.
Homalocephala Britton & Rose[1]

Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae.[1] The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος (echinos), meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.

Perhaps the best known species is the golden barrel (Echinocactus grusonii) from Mexico, an easy-to-grow and widely cultivated plant. Though common in the houseplant and landscape industry, the golden barrel has become very rare in habitat.

Selected species

Formerly placed here

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Genus: Echinocactus Link & Otto". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  2. 1 2 "GRIN Species Records of Echinocactus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  3. "Echinocactus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
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