All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Echinofossulocactus densispinus
(Syn: Stenocactus ochoteraneus)
 

Flowers in March-April

Description: Solitary or clustering cactus.
Stems: up to 8 cm tall, 10 cm in diameter with woolly apex;
Areoles: young areoles with white hair.
Ribs: Barely visible beneath the numerous white radial spines, thin sometimes wavy.
Radial spines: Radials white numerous 22 or more.
Central spines: 4, the superior one up to 6.5 cm long flattened dark-brown that age to tan.
Flowers: Pale pink or pale greenish yellow, 2.5 cm long.
Fruit: Greenish fruit withwhitish scales.

Culture: Easy to to care and flower. No absolute schedule can be given for watering as  various factors (Soil mixture, containers, drainage, temperature, size of plant) influence water use, so  - as a general rule - the soil should be thoroughly wetted at each watering during the active growing season (spring and summer), water when the top 1,5- 2 cm of soil feels dry to the finger. Do not soak the soil during the dormant period. Be careful, excessive watering can make root and/or stem to rots. Make sure there is good air circulation between plants. Good drainage is essential along good moisture retention properties and adequate nutrients availability.

Require bright sunlight to grow well. Dormant plants do best at temperatures from 5-10°C (but will tolerate -5° for short periods). The cooler temperatures develop sturdier plants and encourage the formation of flower buds.

Propagation: By offsets which often are found growing around the base of the plant,  Remove the basal offset (if available) in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost or (usually) by seed.

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Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix II

Origin:  Mexico, Queretaro, Guanajuato (also reported in Hidalgo Aguascalientes and San Luís Potosí)
 

Taxon synonyms: 

• Echinofossulocactus ochoterenanus (Tiegel) H. C. Whitmore 1934
• Echinocactus heteracanthus Muehlenpfordt 1845
  = ?Echinofossulocactus heteracanthus (Muehlenpfordt) Britton et Rose 1922
  = ?Stenocactus heteracanthus (Muehlenpfordt) A. Berger 1929
  = Brittonrosea heteracantha
  = Efossus heteracanthus
• Stenocactus bustamantei Bravo 1937
  = Echinofossulocactus bustamantei (Bravo) Croizat 1942
•  Stenocactus lexarzai Bravo 1937
  = Echinofossulocactus lexarzai (Bravo) Croizat 1942
• Echinofossulocactus densispinus Tiegel ex Pechanek 1965
• Echinofossulocactus rosasianus H. C. Whitmore ex Pechanek 1965
• Echinofossulocactus parksianus C. Schmoll ex Pechanek 1971
• Echinofossulocactus boedekerianus

This species is  topped with a wisp of white-pink flowers. Such fragile beauty is surrounded by numerous spines that barely conceal the sinuous ribs

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinofossulocactus ochoteraneus complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms (like most Echinofossulocactus) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies):

• E. ochoteraneus
• E. densispinus (ochoteraneus)
• E. rosasianus (ochoteraneus)

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.