Echinocereus acanthosetus

Echinocereus acanthosetus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

Description
Echinocereus acanthosetus grows solitary almost spherical to spherical, green to stems reach height of 3.9 to 6.2 mm a diameter of 12.1 to 25.5 mm. There are eight to ten low and wide ribs. There are 5-9 radial spines that are 2 to 7 mm long growing on elliptical areoles. The short, funnel-shaped flowers are magenta to cream white and appear near the tips or sides of the shoots. They are 31.6 to 48 mm long and reach a diameter of 41.8 to 46.6 mm. The spherical, purple-colored, 7 to 9 mm long by 5 to 7 mm wide with black seeds.

Plants are distinguished from Echinocereus pulchellus by its smaller stems, elliptical areoles, and larger number of spines that are also longer.

Distribution
Plants are found in Oaxaca, Mexico between Magdalena Jicotlan and Tepelmeme de Morelos in Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlá growing in grasslands and among xerophytic vegetation.

Taxonomy
Echinocereus acanthosetus was first described as a variety of Echinocereus pulchellus in 1997. It was later recognized as a subspecies. It was recognized as a separate species in 2020 based on multivariate analysis.