Echinocactus

Echinocactus
	Echinocactus polycephalus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Echinocactus; Link & Otto
Type species
	Echinocactus platyacanthus;
Species
	See text
Synonyms
	Brittonrosea Speg.; Echinofossulocactus Lawr.; Homalocephala Britton & Rose

Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae.^[1] The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek ἐχῖνος (echînos), meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.

Species

As of 2025, the genus includes 3 accepted species out of hundreds of plants having the name.^[2]

Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
Homalocephala parryi (Engelm.) Vargas & Bárcenas		Mexico (Zacatecas)
Echinocactus horizonthalonius Lem.	Devil's Head, Silverbell Cactus, Turk's Head CactusGolden Barrel Cactus	southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto	Giant Barrel Cactus	Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert

Formerly placed here

Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem. (as E. asterias Zucc.)
Aztekium ritteri (Boed.) Boed. (as E. ritteri Boed.)
Kroenleinia grusonii (Hildm.) Lodé (as E. grusonii Hildm.)
Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britton & Rose (as E. wislizeni Engelm.)
Lophophora williamsii (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) J.M.Coult. (as E. williamsii Lem. ex Salm-Dyck)
Turbinicarpus subterraneus (Backeb.) A.D.Zimm. (as E. subterraneus Backeb.)^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Genus: Echinocactus Link & Otto". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
^ Template:POWO
^ "GRIN Species Records of Echinocactus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-11-13.

Innes C, Wall B (1995). Cacti, Succulents and Bromeliads. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society.

External links

[GRIN-1] "Genus: Echinocactus Link & Otto". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2010-11-13.

[2] Template:POWO

[GRINSpecies-3] "GRIN Species Records of Echinocactus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-11-13.

[1]

[2]

[3]