Echinocereus ledingii

Echinocereus ledingii is a species of cactus native to Arizona.

Description
Echinocereus ledingii forms clusters of four to ten shoots. These green, egg-shaped to cylindrical shoots are 25 to 50 cm long and 6 to 8 cm in diameter, often hidden by thorns. The shoots feature twelve to fourteen (rarely up to sixteen) non-tuberculated ribs. They have one to four strong, round, yellowish central spines that darken to black and measure 2 to 2.5 cm long, with the strongest spine curving downward. Additionally, there are nine to eleven spread-out, yellowish marginal spines, each 1.2 to 1.5 cm long.

The broadly funnel-shaped flowers are magenta to pink-purple and appear near the tips or sides of the shoots. They are 5 to 6 cm long and wide. The spherical fruits start green and turn red as they mature; they are fleshy and edible.

Distribution
Echinocereus ledingii is native to southeastern Arizona in the United States growing in chaparrel and oak woodlands at elevations of 1200 to 2000 m.

Taxonomy
Robert Hibbs Peebles first described the species in 1936. The specific epithet ledingii honors A. M. Leding, an American cactus enthusiast from New Mexico.