Echinocereus dasyacanthus SB242 Otero Co, NM. USA
A distinctive plant, with its stem completely obscured by a layer of spines that can
vary in colour depending on growing conditions.  Flower colour  is spectacular.
 

Description: Unbranched or branching from the base, forming loose clumps of fewer than 20 stiff branches in old age, with its stem completely obscured by a layer of spines that can vary in colour depending on growing conditions.
This can give the plant horizontal coloured bands similar to, but not as bold as, the Arizona Rainbow Cactus (E. rigidissimus.)
Stems: Ovoid, becoming cylindrical with age, 10-20 (40) cm tall × 4-7 (10) cm in diameter;
Ribs: Straight, approx 15-20, crests rather sharply undulate;
Areoles: 3-5 (11) mm apart.
Spines: The stem is completely covered with short spines presenting a relatively bristly appearance.  They are pink to pale yellow, white, or tan, less often dark brown or purplish.  Annual growth increments are marked (often vaguely) by rings of spines with contrasting colours (depending on growing conditions) that grey with age..
Central spine: 3 to 10 central spines, up to 15 mm long, straight, spreading in all directions.
Radial spines: appressed, 16 to 24, up to 10mm long
 

Flowers: 7-10 cm wide × 7-12 cm long; inner tepals, either yellow or rarely orange-yellow, salmon -pink to magenta with age, basal portion green in either case, tips relatively thin and delicate; The outer petals often have a darker or reddish midstripe. Anthers are yellow.  The stigma has 16-20 lobes.
Flowering time:  April-May
Fruits: Dark, dull, purplish to maroon (sometimes remaining green), 2-3.5 cm, pulp white to purplish pink. The spiny fruits are edible, although acid.

Cultivation:  It rots easily, as it is sensitive to over-watering (rot prone), and needs a very good drainage to avoid rotting. Keep drier and cool in winter. Needs full sun. Very cold resistant (hardy to -10° C or less) for short periods of time.

Propagation: Seeds or cutting (if available)

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Echinocereus dasyacanthus.

• Echinocereus dasyacanthus
• Echinocereus dasyacanthus var. resctispinus

Scientific name: Echinocereus dasyacanthus Engelmann
in F. A. Wislizenus, Mem. Tour N. Mexico. 100. 1848.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Name: Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya.

Origin: Southern USA (Texas, Oklahoma and southern New Mexico), northern Mexico

Habitat:    Chihuahuan desert scrub, grasslands, valleys to rocky canyon sides in limestone; 600 to 1,900m .

• Cereus dasyacanthus Engelmann 1848
• Echinocereus pectinatus var. dasyacanthus (Engelmann) W. Earle ex N. P. Taylor
• Echinocereus rubescens Dams 1909
• Echinocereus spinosissimus Walton 1899
• Echinocereus rigidissimus var. neomexicanus
• Echinocereus pectinatus var. neomexicanus
• Echinocereus hildmannii
• Echinocereus ctenoides = Cereus ctenoides,

Echinocereus dasyacanthus SB415 Brewter Co. TX. USA

E. dasyacantus