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Green-flower hedgehog cactus

Echinocereus viridiflorus Engelm.

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Green-flower hedgehog cactus spines
Green-flower hedgehog cactus flower
Green-flower hedgehog cactus
Green-flower hedgehog cactus

Morphology

Stem
Succulent herbs, erect, branched or unbranched, rarely forming clumps. Stems not segmented, spherical to cylindric, prominently ribbed, ribs bearing small tubercules; areoles apical on tubercle, not woolly. Spines red, white, yellow, or purple, not barbed; radial spines (12-)38-45 per areole, straight or curved, .08 to .7 inch; central spines 0-17, straight, curved, or twisted, smooth, not barbed, .2 to 1.6 inch; glochids absent.
Leaves
Leaves essentially absent.
Flower
Flowers borne on old growth, funnelform or short tubular, .8 to 1.4 inch; tepals yellowish green, mid-stripes often darker; anthers yellow; filaments yellowish green; style yellow; stigma lobes green or yellowish green.
Fruit
Berry-like, green, globose or ellipsoid, .25 to .7 inch long, .25 to .5 inch wide, spiny; seeds black, globose to obovoid, .03 to .08 inch, tuberculate.

Ecology

Habitat
Sandy, gravelly, or rocky shortgrass prairies
Distribution
Western-most tier of counties in Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

Echinocereus, spine and Cereus, a genus of columnar cactus and viridiflorus, green and flower.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Cactaceae - Cactus Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
3-12 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2016-06-21
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: May, June