Echinofossulocactus
| Echinofossulocactus | |
|---|---|
| File:Echinofossulocactus multicostatus.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cacteae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Echinofossulocactus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé prioritizes this name over Stenocactus based on the principle of priority (ICN). |
Etymology
The name is a combination of "Cactus hedgehog" (or urchin) and the Latin fossula (groove/furrow), describing the plants' globose, spiny shape and their characteristic wavy, deeply grooved ribs[cite: 1].
Description
Echinofossulocactus consists of small, low-growing plants that range from globose and flattened to shortly cylindrical.
- Stems: Usually solitary, though occasionally forming small clumps[cite: 1]. A defining feature is the presence of numerous (up to 120), very fine, and characteristically **wavy ribs**[cite: 1].
- Spines: They possess two distinct types of spines: upper spines that are thicker, longer, and often dagger-shaped (gladiate), and lower spines that are smaller and often translucent (hyaline)[cite: 1].
- Flowers: Diurnal and relatively small, appearing at the stem apex. Colors vary from white and yellow to more frequent shades of pink-purple or violet with dark central stripes[cite: 1]. They are pollinated mainly by bees[cite: 1].
- Fruits and Seeds: Small, globose fruits that are laterally dehiscent (split along the side)[cite: 1]. The seeds are shiny, blackish-brown, and likely dispersed by ants (myrmecophily)[cite: 1].
Habitat
These cacti are highly mimetic, often growing at ground level hidden among grasses and bushes[cite: 1]. They are found on stony plains, rocky limestone soils, and grasslands rich in humus at altitudes between 600 m and 2800 m[cite: 1].
Distribution
- Mexico: Widely distributed across states including Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico DF, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas[cite: 1].
Species
Lodé recognizes a reduced list of 12 species, noting that the genus is a "taxonomic nightmare" due to high variability and hybridization[cite: 1]:
- Echinofossulocactus coptonogonus
- Echinofossulocactus crispatus
- Echinofossulocactus dichroacanthus
- Echinofossulocactus lamellosus
- Echinofossulocactus multicostatus
- Echinofossulocactus lloydii
- Echinofossulocactus obvallatus
- Echinofossulocactus ochoterenanus
- Echinofossulocactus pentacanthus
- Echinofossulocactus phyllacanthus
- Echinofossulocactus sulphureus
- Echinofossulocactus vaupelianus
Taxonomy and Controversy
The use of the name Echinofossulocactus vs. Stenocactus is one of the most debated topics in cactus nomenclature:
- Priority: Lodé argues that since Echinofossulocactus (1841) predates Stenocactus (1898), it must be maintained according to the International Code of Nomenclature (ICN)[cite: 1].
- Lectotypification: He supports the original lectotypification of E. coptonogonus by Britton & Rose as correct and rejects attempts to synonymize the genus with Echinocactus[cite: 1].
- Phylogeny: Molecular studies (Vázquez-Sánchez et al., 2013) show that this genus is part of a "Ferocactus clade" along with Leuchtenbergia and Thelocactus, but remains a distinct monophyletic group (if E. coptonogonus is excluded)[cite: 1].
