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[]. We are following the treatment of David Hunt, 2016 in CITES Cactaceae Checklist, Third Edition, ISBN 978-0-9933113-2-1.

Common Name: Spiny Hedgehog Cactus

General Information

Echinocereus dasyacanthus is a very spiny, evergreen, succulent perennial cactus. Plants, especially when young, are usually simple, often branching bassaly in age to form loose clumps of up to 20 stems in old age. Stems are cylindrical, 11 - 23cm high , occasionally to 40cm, and 5 - 10cm in diameter[, ]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often grown as an ornamental.
Echinocereus dasyacanthus has a very wide range, is abundant, and although it is collected illegally for horticultural use this is not sufficient to warrant any concern. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southwestern N. America - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, northern Mexico (Chihuahua and Coahuila)

Habitat

Xerophyllous scrub, grasslands, and on rocks., growing in sandy valleys to stony hills in limestone; at elevations from 1,200 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

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[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. An acid flavour[]. A white to purplish-pink pulp[].The purplish to maroon, nearly globular fruit is 20 - 35mm in diameter[, ]. The fruit sometimes remains green when it is fully ripe[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -