Echinocereus ledingii

Peebles

Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 8: 35, figs. 1936.

Common names: Leding’s hedgehog cactus
Synonyms: Echinocereus fendleri var. ledingii (Peebles) N. P. Taylor
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 167. Mentioned on page 161, 168.

Plants 4–15-branched, forming rather open clumps. Stems erect, cylindric, 15–50 × 6–8 cm; ribs 12–14(–16), crests slightly undulate; areoles 15–25 mm apart. Spines 10–16 per areole, mostly straight or central spines strongly curving down near base; radial spines 9–11 per areole, pale to golden yellow, aging darker colored or black, 12–15 mm; central spines 1(–5) per areole, all yellow or whitish, terete, 20–25 mm. Flowers 5–6 × 5–6 cm; flower tube 15–20 × 15–25 mm; flower tube hairs 2 mm; inner tepals magenta to rose-pink, darker proximally, 30 × 5–12 mm, tips relatively thin and delicate; anthers yellow; nectar chamber 5–8 mm. Fruits green, sometimes tinged reddish to brownish, 20–30 mm, pulp white. 2n = 22.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jun; fruiting 3 1/2 months after flowering.
Habitat: Rocky mountainsides, interior chaparral, oak woodland, igneous substrates
Elevation: 1200-2000 m

Discussion

More than half of the localities formerly attributed to Echinocereus ledingii (H. Bravo-H. and H. Sánchez-M. 1998–1991, vol. 3; L. D. Benson 1969) are undocumented and highly suspect. The decurved or deflexed central spines, supposedly diagnostic for this rare species, are misleadingly duplicated in many individuals of E. coccineus and E. arizonicus, and only the latter two species have been found in most of the mountain ranges mapped by A. A. Nichol for L. D. Benson. Echinocereus ledingii is found in the Graham (Pinaleño), Santa Theresa, and Chiricahua mountains.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Echinocereus ledingii"
Allan D. Zimmerman +  and Bruce D. Parfitt +
Peebles +
Leding’s hedgehog cactus +
1200-2000 m +
Rocky mountainsides, interior chaparral, oak woodland, igneous substrates +
Flowering May–Jun +  and fruiting 3 1/2 months after flowering. +
Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) +
Echinocereus fendleri var. ledingii +
Echinocereus ledingii +
Echinocereus +
species +