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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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Introductory
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
ABBREVIATION :
ECHTRI
SYNONYMS :
E. t. var. gonacanthus (Engelm.) Boissevain = typical variety [23]
SCS PLANT CODE :
ECTR
COMMON NAMES :
hedgehog cactus
red-flowered hedgehog cactus
claretcup cactus
strawberry cactus
TAXONOMY :
The currently accepted scientific name of hedgehog cactus is
Echinocereus triglochidiatus Engelmann (Cactaceae) [3,10,11,14,20]. The
species is composed of a complex group of local populations, and the
appearance of extreme types differs substantially [3]. Hickman [10]
stated that varietal designations are not acceptable. However, the
following varieties are recognized by some authorities:
E. triglochidiatus var. triglochidiatus [3,23,26]
E. t. var. arizonicus (Rose) L. Benson [3,26] Arizona hedgehog cactus
E. t. var. gurneyi L. Benson [3,26]
E. t. var. inermis Rowley [3] spineless hedgehog cactus
E. t. var. melanacanthus (Engelm.) L. Benson [3,9,11,14,20,26]
E. t. var. mojavensis (Engelm. & Bigel.) L. Benson [3,9,11,14,20,23,26]
E. t. var. neomexicanthus (Standl.) Standl. ex W. T. Marshall [3,9,26]
E. t. var. paucispinus (Engelm.) Engelm. ex W. T. Marshall [3,9,26]
The variety E. t. variety toroweapensis Fischer has been proposed [24].
A spineless form of E. t. variety mojavensis occurs in the mountains and
mesas of western Colorado and eastern Utah [23].
Echinocereus coccineus was formerly considered a synomyn, but is now
considered a distinct species [23,25].
LIFE FORM :
Cactus
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
See OTHER STATUS
OTHER STATUS :
Arizona hedgehog cactus (E. t. var. arizonicus) is federally listed as
endangered. Spineless hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus
var. inermis) has been delisted from Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants [28].
Arizona hedgehog cactus is protected from international trade by CITES
(Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora) and is also protected by the Arizona Native Plant Law [2].
COMPILED BY AND DATE :
Robin F. Matthews, April 1994
LAST REVISED BY AND DATE :
NO-ENTRY
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Matthews, Robin F. 1994. Echinocereus triglochidiatus. In: Remainder of Citation
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Hedgehog cactus is distributed from Nevada, Utah, and Colorado south to
southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico [3,20].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES40 Desert grasslands
STATES :
AZ CA CO NV NM TX UT MEXICO
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS :
AMIS ARCH BIBE BLCA CACH CANY
CARE CACA CHIR COLM DEVA DINO
GLCA GRCA GRSA GUMO JOTR LAME
MEVE NABR ORPI SAGU WACA WHSA
ZION
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
14 Great Plains
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K018 Pine - Douglas-fir forest
K019 Arizona pine forest
K023 Juniper - pinyon woodland
K027 Mesquite bosque
K031 Oak - juniper woodlands
K032 Transition between K031 and K037
K037 Mountain-mahogany - oak scrub
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K039 Blackbrush
K040 Saltbush - greasewood
K041 Creosotebush
K042 Creosotebush - bursage
K043 Paloverde - cactus shrub
K044 Creosotebush - tarbush
K046 Desert: vegetation largely lacking
K053 Grama - galleta steppe
K054 Grama - tobosa prairie
K057 Galleta - three-awn shrubsteppe
K058 Grama - tobosa shrubsteppe
K059 Trans-Pecos shrub savanna
K060 Mesquite savanna
K061 Mesquite - acacia savanna
K062 Mesquite - live oak savanna
K065 Grama - buffalograss
K086 Juniper - oak savanna
K087 Mesquite - oak savanna
SAF COVER TYPES :
66 Ashe juniper - redberry (Pinchot) juniper
68 Mesquite
220 Rocky Mountain juniper
237 Interior ponderosa pine
239 Pinyon - juniper
241 Western live oak
242 Mesquite
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Hedgehog cactus is not listed as a dominant or codominant species in
available publications. Habitats in which the varieties of hedgehog
cactus are typically found follow [3,5,13,17,26]:
Rocky Mountain montane forest--E. t. var. melanacanthus, E. t. var.
mojavensis (lower elevations)
Southwestern oak woodland--E. t. var. melanacanthus, E. t. var.
neomexicanus, E. t. var. arizonicus
Great Basin Desert--E. t. var. melanacanthus
Desert grassland--E. t. var. melanacanthus, E. t. var. neomexicanthus,
E. t. var. gurneyi
Great Plains grassland--E. t. var. melanacanthus
Northern pinyon-juniper woodland--E. t. var. mojavensis
Southern pinyon-juniper woodland--E. t. var. neomexicanthus,
E. t. var. triglochidiatus, E. t. var. melanacanthus
California chaparral--E. t. var. mojavensis (desert edge)
Southwestern chaparral--E. t. var. melanacanthus, E. t. var. arizonicus
Mojave Desert--E. t. var. mojavensis
Chihuahuan Desert--E. t. var. gurneyi, E. t. var. paucispinus
VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
NO-ENTRY
PALATABILITY :
NO-ENTRY
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
COVER VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
The fruit of hedgehog cactus is edible at maturity [3].
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Arizona hedgehog cactus is threatened by disturbances such as mining,
off-road vehicle use, illegal collecting, and road and utility line
construction [2].
Hedgehog cactus was not present in Grand Canyon National Park in 1984 or
1989 on desert campsites that received high use by backpackers.
However, its frequency was 2 percent and 3 percent in those years,
respectively, on nearby control sites [6].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Hedgehog cactus is a native stem succulent with stems occurring singly
or in dense clusters or mounds with up to 500 stems. Mounds may reach
12 inches (30 cm) in height and 12 to 48 inches (30-120 cm) in diameter.
Individual cylindrical stems have one joint, are 2 to 12 inches (5-30
cm) tall and 1 to 6 inches (2.5-15 cm) in diameter. Hedgehog cactus has
eight to twelve spines per areole, with central spines being difficult
to distinguish from radial spines. Plants may vary from densely spiny
to no spines at all. Spines less than 1 year old are generally
puberulent. The scarlet flowers are diurnal, remaining open for 2 or 3
days. The fruit is red and juicy at maturity and has deciduous spines
[3,10,11,14,20].
Yeaton [21] stated that hedgehog cactus has permanent apical pubescence
that may act to insulate the plant against cold temperatures that may
occur in the juniper-pinyon (Juniperus-Pinus) zone. In addition, the
closed canopy of dense mounds of hedgehog cactus maintains surface and
internal stem temperatures within the mound below ambient temperatures
during daylight hours. Temperatures within the mound then increase
gradually for several hours after the sun sets, allowing hedgehog cactus
to survive low night temperatures.
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Stem succulent
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Hedgehog cactus is pollinated by hummingbirds [23]. No other
regeneration information was found in the literature.
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Hedgehog cactus is found on a variety of sites and within a wide
elevational range. In juniper-pinyon woodlands of the Mojave Desert,
hedgehog cactus is found on north- and south-facing rocky slopes and in
washes [21]. General site characteristics for different varieties
follow [3,26]:
E. t. var. arizonicus--often growing among granitic boulders in
mountainous woodlands and chaparral. Elevation ranges from about
3,500 to 4,700 feet (1,050-1,410 m).
E. t. var. gurneyi-- on rocky hillsides in granitic or limestone soils in
deserts. Elevation ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 feet (1,200-1,500 m).
E. t. var. melanacanthus--on rocky or grassy hillsides, ledges, and
canyons; mostly on igneous rock. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 9,000
feet (1,050-2,900 m).
E. t. var. mojavensis-- on rocky hillsides and canyons in deserts and in
woodlands above. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 10,000 feet
(1,050-3,000 m).
E. t. var. neomexicanus--on soils of igneous origin in woodlands and
grasslands. Elevation ranges from 4,500 to 7,000 feet (1,350-2100 m).
E. t. var. paucispinus--on rocky igneous or limestone soils in deserts
or grasslands. Elevation ranges from 500 to 1,000 feet (150-300 m).
E. t. var. triglochidiatus--on rocky or gravelly soils on ridges, hills,
and canyons in woodlands. Elevation ranges 4,350 to 6,900 feet
(1,300-2,070 m).
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Hedgehog cactus grows in shade [21,22].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
Flowering time differs between varieties of hedgehog cactus and is also
dependent on latitude. Hedgehog cactus generally flowers from April to
June [2,3,11,14].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Specific information concerning adaptations that hedgehog cactus may
have for survival following fire is not available in the literature.
Single-stemmed individuals are probably susceptible to fire due to their
relatively small size. When hedgehog cactus forms compact mounds,
interior stems may be protected by outer stems, enabling them to survive
fire.
Cacti may escape fire in refugia or in areas with fuels too sparse to
carry a fire [16]. Since hedgehog cactus usually grows under shade, it
is less likely to escape fire than species that grow on open sites with
little surrounding vegetation. Cacti do not apear to store seed in soil
seedbanks [16].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Specific information concerning the effect of fire on hedgehog cactus is
not available in the literature. Hedgehog cactus is probably killed by
most fires.
Succulents in general rarely actually burn, but spines may ignite and
carry flames to the apex. The cactus body may scorch and blister
without pyrolysis, leaving undamaged parts of the plant alive.
Mortality results from death of the photosynthetic tissue and underlying
phloem and cambium. Cacti may appear completely scorched with no green
tissue visible, yet may survive fire. However, fire can cause delayed
mortality, which may not occur for months or even years. Removal of the
spines may also increase subsequent herbivory. Survival of succulents
depends primarily on protection of the apical meristem. If the apical
meristem is undamaged, the cactus will resume growth [16].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
NO-ENTRY
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus
REFERENCES :
1. Anon. 1990. Endangered species of Utah. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region. Pamphlet. [20831]
2. Anon. 1992. Handbook of Arizona's endangered, threatened, and candidate
plants. Summer 1992. [Place of publication unknown]: [Publisher
unknown]. 57 p. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory,
Missoula, MT. [20963]
3. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada.
Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
4. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p.
[434]
5. Butterwick, Mary; Parfitt, Bruce D.; Hillyard, Deborah. 1992. Vascular
plants of the northern Hualapai Mountains, Arizona. Journal of the
Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 24-25: 31-49. [18327]
6. Cole, David N.; Hall, Troy E. 1992. Trends in campsite condition: Eagle
Cap Wilderness, Bob Marshall Wilderness, and Grand Canyon National Park.
Res. Pap. INT-453. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Intermountain Research Station. 40 p. [17764]
7. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
8. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others].
1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range
ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
9. Bowles, Marlin; Flakne, Robyn; McEachern, Kathryn; Pavlovic, Noel. 1993.
Recovery planning and reintroduction of the federally threatened
pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) in Illinois. Natural Areas Journal.
13(3): 164-176. [22355]
10. Hickman, James C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of
California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1400 p.
[21992]
11. Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H.; Howell, John Thomas; McClintock,
Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2d ed. Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press. 1085 p. [6563]
12. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Manual to accompany the map of potential vegetation
of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
American Geographical Society. 77 p. [1384]
13. Lowe, Charles H. 1964. Arizona's natural environment: Landscapes and
habitats. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. 136 p. [20736]
14. Munz, Philip A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Berkeley, CA:
University of California Press. 1086 p. [4924]
15. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
16. Thomas, P. A. 1991. Response of succulents to fire: a review.
International Journal of Wildland Fire. 1(1): 11-22. [14991]
17. Turner, Raymond M. 1982. Great Basin desertscrub. In: Brown, David E.,
ed. Biotic communities of the American Southwest--United States and
Mexico. Desert Plants. 4(1-4): 145-155. [2373]
18. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982.
National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names.
SCS-TP-159. Washington, DC. 416 p. [11573]
19. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993.
Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. 50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12.
Washington, DC. 40 p. [22398]
20. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry
C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo,
UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
21. Yeaton, Richard I. 1982. Ecomorphology and habitat utilization of
Echinocereus engelmannii and E. triglochidiatus (Cactaceae) in
southeastern California. Great Basin Naturalist. 42(3): 353-359.
[22566]
22. Arp, Gerald. 1973. Studies in the Colorado cacti V. The spineless
hedgehog. Cactus & Succulent Journal. 45(3): 132-133. [22640]
23. Ferguson, David J. 1989. Revision of the U.S. members of the
Echinocereus triglochidiatus group. Cactus & Succulent Journal. 61:
217-224. [22641]
24. Fischer, Pierre C. 1991. Echinocereus triglochidiatus variety
toroweapensis: A new variety from the Grand Canyon. Cactus and Succulent
Journal. 63(4): 194-195. [22639]
25. Hoffman, M. Timm. 1992. Functional dioecy in Echinocereus coccineus
(Cactaceae): breeding system, sex ratios, and geographic range of floral
dimorphism. American Journal of Botany. 79(12): 1382-1388. [20080]
26. Taylor, Nigel P. 1985. The genus Echinocereus. Kew Magazine Monograph.
Middlesex, England: Collingridge Books. 160 p. In association with The
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28. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994.
Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. 50 CFR 17.11 & 17.12.
Washington, DC: [Publisher unknown]. 42 p. [24413]
Index
Related categories for Species: Echinocereus triglochidiatus
| Hedgehog Cactus
|
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