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: Mound Hedgehog Cactus

General Information

Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, perennial cactus. Sometimes forming a single, cylindrical stem around 5 - 70cm tall and 5 - 13cm in diameter, it more often branches from low down to form clumps or large mounds 100cm or more in diameter, consisting of 300 stems or more[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental.
Echinocereus triglochidiatus has a very wide range, is abundant, and there are no major threats. 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 - California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, northwest Mexico (Baja California)

Habitat

Xerophyllous scrub to pine-oak forests, growing on rocky or grassy hillsides, ledges, and canyons; mostly on igneous rocks, sometimes limestone.; at elevations from 150 - 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Humming Birds, Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Echinocereus triglochidiatus is native to arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern N. America. Cold tolerance much dependson the provenance of the plant. So long as the climate is not wet, var. arizonicus can tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -6°c, other varieties are generally much more cold resistant[]
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, cooked, or pickled[]. A white flesh[]. The green to yellow-green or pink (rarely red) fruit is around 20 - 35mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow on a finely sieved compost and place under a glass or transparent plastic cover in a temperature of 20°c.
Cuttings of detached branches. Leave the freshly taken cuttings in a warm, dry, airy position for the cut surface to callus, then place them in a sandy compost,