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Useful Temperate Plants

Echinocereus cinerascens

(DC.) Engelm. ex Haage

Cactaceae


The taxonomy of this genus is complicated due to fuzzy taxonomic boundaries, polytypic taxa, and differing interpretations by specialists. Most North American botanists recognize about 50 species, while the Echinocereus specialists in Germany recognize more than 70 species[
1991
Title
Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
Publication
Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
Author
Felger R.S. et al
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
 
]. We are following the treatment of David Hunt, 2016 in CITES Cactaceae Checklist, Third Edition, ISBN 978-0-9933113-2-1.

+ Synonyms

Cereus acinaciformis Steud.

Cereus aciniformis Pfeiff.

Cereus cinerascens DC.

Cereus cirrhifer Labour.

Cereus deppei Otto ex J.Forbes

Cereus deppei Pfeiff.

Cereus ehrenbergii Pfeiff.

Cereus glycimorphus (Foerster) Orcutt

Echinocactus chlorophthalmus Hook.

Echinocereus chlorophthalmus (Hook.) Britton & Rose

Echinocereus cirrhifer (Labour.) Haage

Echinocereus ehrenbergii (Pfeiff.) Engelm. ex Haage

Echinocereus glycimorphus undulatus Schelle

Echinocereus pentalophus ehrenbergii (Pfeiff.) Backeb.

Echinocereus tulensis Bravo

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Echinocereus cinerascens is a spiny, evergreen, succulent perennial cactus. Many-branched from the base, it forms clumps or compact mounds of prostrate to erect, cylindrical stems; individual stems are up to 30cm long and 2 - 12cm in diameter[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is widely grown as an ornamental.
Echinocereus cinerascens is a very widespread and extremely common species with no major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..

Range

Southern N. America - central Mexico - México Federal District, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas

Habitat

Thorny Prosopis scrub (mesquite) and xerophytic shrubland; at elevations around 1,600 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.25 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Echinocereus cinerascens is native to moderate elevations in semi-arid environments in central Mexico. In cultivation in semi-arid temperate regions of the USA it has shown itself to tolerate light frosts, being undamaged at temperatures down to -4°c[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
In cultivation, Cactus plants generally will not succeed in moist climates. They usually require a sunny position in a well-drained, circumneutral soil and to be kept more or less dry in the dormant season[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
]. A strawberry-like flavour[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
]. The green fruits are spiny[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Echinocereus+cinerascens>

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