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].

Related categories for Species: Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Hedgehog Cactus