Echinocactus

Echinocactus platyacanthus

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Caryophyllales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Cactaceae
Subfamilia: Cactoideae
Tribus: Cacteae
Genus: Echinocactus
Species: E. × diabolicus – E. horizonthalonius – E. platyacanthus

Name

Echinocactus Link & Otto, Verh. Vereins Beförd. Gartenbaues Königl. Preuss. Staaten 3: 420. 1827.

• Type species: Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto, vide N.L.Britton & Rose 1922)

Synonyms

• Brittonrosea Speg.
• Echinofossulocactus Lawr.
• Emorycactus Doweld
• Meyerocactus Doweld
  

Note: Vargas-Luna et al. (2018) have suggested that to render this genus monophyletic then Homalocephala be resurrected. CACO (2025) differs in not accepting Echinocactus × diabolicus. Hassler (2025) accepts a wider species circumscription pre Vargas et al. (2018).

Distribution

Native distribution areas:
Continental: Northern America Arizona, California, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Link, J.H.F. & Otto, C.F. (1827) Verhandlungen des Vereins zur Beförderung des Gartenbaues in den Königlich Preussischen Staaten 3: 420.

Additional references

• Britton, N.L. & Rose, J.N. 1923. The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. Vol. 4. 318 pp. + 37 pl. Carnegie Institution of Washington. BHL PDF Reference page. : 3: 166.
• Doweld, A.B. 1996. De Polyfylie van het geslacht Echinocactus: aangetoond door zaadhuidstructure en -ornamentatie. Succulenta 75(6): 268–278. Reference page. 
• Vargas-Luna, M.D., Hernández-Ledesma, P. & Majure, L.C. 2018. Splitting Echinocactus: morphological and molecular evidence support the recognition of Homalocephala as a distinct genus in the Cacteae. PhytoKeys 111: 31–59. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.111.26856 Reference page. 
• Korotkova, N., Aquino, D., Arias, S., Eggli, U., Franck, A. , Gómez-Hinostrosa, C., Guerrero, P.C., Hernández, H.M., Kohlbecker, A., Köhler, M., Luther, K., Majure, L.C., Müller, A., Metzing, D., Nyffeler, R., Sánchez, D., Schlumpberger, B. & Berendsohn, W.G. 2021. Cactaceae at Caryophyllales. org–a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family. Willdenowia 51(2): 251–270. DOI: 10.3372/wi.51.51208 Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Echinocactus in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Jan. 13. Reference page. 
• Korotkova, N. et al. 2025. Echinocactus in Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org. A global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Jan. 13. Reference page. 
• International Plant Names Index. 2021. Echinocactus. Published online. Accessed: Mar 13 2021. Reference page.
• Tropicos.org 2021. Echinocactus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 13 Mar 2021. Reference page.
• Hassler, M. 2021. Echinocactus. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Mar 13. Reference page. 

Vernacular names

• беларуская: Эхінакактус
• suomi: Siilikaktukset
• polski: Echinokaktus
• svenska: Igelkottskaktussläktet

For more multimedia, look at Echinocactus on Wikimedia Commons.