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:

General Information

Echinocereus scopulorum is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, perennial cactus producing a single, unbranched, cylindrical stem around 10 - 40cm tall and up to 10cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental.
Echinocereus scopulorum has a wide range. Although it is sparse within that range, there are no major threats and it also occurs in a protected area. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southwest N. America - northwest Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit)

Habitat

Bare areas and on rocky hills and mountains, in Sonoran Desert scrub; at elevations up to 800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	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 - raw[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -