Echinocereus enneacanthus

Echinocereus enneacanthus is a species of flowering plant first described by George Engelmann.

Description
Echinocereus enneacanthus forms low cushions with 30 to 200 shoots. The cloudy to light green, cylindrical shoots, which are prostrate except for the tips, are up to 2 meters long and have a diameter of 3.5 to 15 cm. There are seven to ten ribs that are not clearly tuberculated. The one to four straight or curved, round to flattened, angular or furrowed central spines are yellowish to brownish or bluish. They are up to 8 cm long. The six to 13 straight, whitish to brownish marginal spines are up to 4 cm long.

The funnel-shaped flowers are magenta colored and have a darker throat. They appear below the shoot tips, are up to 8 cm long and reach a diameter of 8 to 12 cm. The spherical to egg-shaped fruits contain pink flesh and taste like strawberries.

Subspecies
This species is divided into the following subspecies:


 * Echinocereus enneacanthus brevispinus
 * Echinocereus enneacanthus enneacanthus

Distribution
Echinocereus enneacanthus is distributed in the United States in the states of New Mexico and Texas and in the north of the neighboring Mexican state of Sonora.

Taxonomy
The first description by George Engelmann was published in 1848. The specific epithet enneacanthus means 'nine-spined'. Common names include “Alicoche,” “Banana Cactus,” “Cob Cactus,” “Green Strawberry Hedgehog,” “Pitaya,” “Prostrate Hedgehog Cactus,” “Purple Pitaya,” “Strawberry Cactus,” and “Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus.” A nomenclature synonym is Cereus enneacanthus (Engelm.) Engelm. (1849)