Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
It is the official state cactus of New Mexico, and its brilliant red flowers do not close at night like many other cactus blooms.
- Scientific name
- Echinocereus triglochidiatus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Cactaceae › Echinocereus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Rocky slopes, gravelly desert flats, canyon walls, and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis via CAM pathway).
- Range
- Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico
- Size
- Mounds up to 1 meter wide, with individual stems 10 to 30 cm tall.
- Lifespan
- 30 to 50 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Illegal poaching for the horticultural trade, habitat fragmentation, and off-road vehicle damage.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless if respected. The sharp, rigid spines can easily puncture skin. Maintain a safe distance of at least a few feet and do not touch. If pricked, carefully remove the spines with tweezers, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and monitor for signs of infection.
Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a species of hedgehog cactus known by several common names, including kingcup cactus , claretcup , and Mojave mound cactus . This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland. It is most abundant in shady areas.
Photo: no rights reserved, CC0, via iNaturalist
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