Echinocereus nivosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Echinocereus
Species:
E. nivosus
Binomial name
Echinocereus nivosus
R.A.Foster and Glass (1978)[2]

Echinocereus nivosus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

Description

Echinocereus nivosus grows richly branched and forms cushions up to 12 centimeters high and 30 centimeters in diameter. The light green egg-shaped to short cylindrical shoots have a diameter of up to 4 centimeters and are almost completely covered by thorns. There are ten to 15 ribs that are slightly tuberous. The slender thorns are mostly glassy white. There are ten to 15 central spines up to 2 centimeters long. The 25 to 40 radiating marginal spines are 4 to 9 millimeters long.

The slender, funnel-shaped flowers are deep pink to deep magenta and appear at the tips of the shoots. They are up to 6 centimeters long and reach a diameter of 4 to 6 centimeters. The reddish lavender-colored fruits are almost spherical and thorny.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The species is known only from two collection sites about 1900 to 2000 meters above sea level in the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the southeastern part of the state of Coahuila. It inhabits exposed sites of limestone rock.[1]

Conservation

The species is currently classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to its extremely restricted distribution, apparently low total population size, and being sought after by collectors.[1]

Taxonomy

The first description by Charles Edward Glass and Robert Alan Foster was published in 1978. The specific epithet nivosus comes from Latin, means 'snow-covered' and refers to the white thorns of the species.[4]


References

  1. 1 2 3 Fitz Maurice, B.; Sotomayor, M.; Fitz Maurice, W.A.; Hernández, H.M.; Smith, M. (2013). "Echinocereus nivosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T152539A648530. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152539A648530.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Jensen, Hans Arne (1998). Bibliography on Seed Morphology. A.A. Balkema. p. 51. ISBN 978-9054104506.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 200. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  4. ↑ "Cactus and Succulent Journal January-February 1978: Vol 50 Iss 1 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.


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