Echinocereus maritimus

Echinocereus maritimus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

Description
Echinocereus maritimus is a cactus that forms cushions with up to 300 shoots, growing to 40 cm high and 2 meter in diameter. The light to dark green, cylindrical shoots are 5 to 30 cm long and 3 to 7 cm in diameter, with eight to twelve sharp ribs. Initially bright red, the spines turn dirty yellow or gray over time. The seven to ten central spines are flattened, angular, and 3 to 6 cm long, while the radial spines are 1.5 to 2.5 cm long.

The bright yellow, funnel-shaped flowers appear below the shoot tips, growing up to 6 cm long and wide. The spherical, thorny fruits start green and turn red as they mature.

Distribution
Echinocereus maritimus is native to the west coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and nearby islands growing in coastal desert scrub at elevations between 0 to 50 meters. Plants are found growing along with Euphorbia misera, Agave sebastiana, Bergerocactus emoryi, Lophocereus schottii, Myrtillocactus cochal, Ferocactus fordii, Cylindropuntia prolifera, Cochemiea pondii, Mammillaria brandegeei, and Cochemiea hutchisoniana subsp. louisae .

Taxonomy
First described as Cereus maritimus by Marcus Eugene Jones in 1883, the species was reclassified by Karl Moritz Schumann in 1897. The name "maritimus," meaning "relating to the sea," reflects its preferred coastal habitat.