''Echinocereus websterianus'', commonly known as the San Pedro Nolasco hedgehog cactus or Webster's hedgehog cactus, is a species of

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

. It is named after American philanthropist

Gertrude Webster Gertrude Divine Webster (born Gertrude Adelaide Divine; June 4, 1872) was an American philanthropist known for co-founding the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, and establishing Yester House, her summer estate which is on the Nationa ...

, who cofounded the

Desert Botanical Garden Desert Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in Papago Park, at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, central Arizona. Founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937 and established at this site in 1939, the garden now ...

in Phoenix, Arizona.

Description

Webster's hedgehog is a short barrel cactus growing up to tall (though usually specimens are shorter) and in diameter. It may grow in a clumping fashion, with up to 50 other basal branches forming the clump. Golden yellow, brown, or white spines grow about long from closely spaced

areole In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cactus, cacti out of which grow clusters of Thorns, spines, and prickles, spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cactus, cacti, and identify them as a family distinct fr ...

s. The pink, violet, or white flower blooms during the day. Flowers are small for the genus, only about in diameter and long from where it branches off the cactus. Flowers do not readily detach once pollinated, which can lead to

stem rot Stem rot is a disease caused by a fungus infection in the stem of crop plants. Fungus that causes stem rot are in the '' Rhizoctonia'', ''Fusarium'' or '' Pythium'' genera. Stem rot can readily infect crops that are in their vegetative or flower ...

. Blooming occurs in the hot months of June and July, once the plant reaches maturity at between 7 and 10 years old. Blooms stay open for 2 or 3 days.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by George Edmund Lindsay was published in 1947.

Distribution

It is likely native to

San Pedro Nolasco Island San Pedro Nolasco Island, sometimes called Seal Island, is a small and rugged Mexico, Mexican island in the Gulf of California. It is 4.2 km long by 1 km wide, and lies 15 km from the nearest point of the Mexican coast and about 2 ...

in the

Gulf of California The Gulf of California (), also known as the Sea of Cortés (''Mar de Cortés'') or Sea of Cortez, or less commonly as the Vermilion Sea (''Mar Vermejo''), is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja California peninsula from ...

, though it may have some distribution in mainland Baja. It occurs on other islands in the Gulf of California, including

Isla San Lorenzo Sur Isla San Lorenzo Sur, is an island in the Gulf of California east of the Baja California Peninsula. The island is uninhabited and is part of the Mexicali Municipality. Isla San Lorenzo Norte is located immediately northwest of Isla San Lorenz ...

and Isla Las Ánimas growing on rocky slopes at elevations of up to 350 m. The plant is found growing along '' Agave chrysoglossa'', ''

Mammillaria multidigitata ''Cochemiea multidigitata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about ...

'', and '' Opuntia bravoana''.

Cultivation

This cactus is easily propagated, but its slow maturation complicates cultivation. It fetches a high price due to its showy flowers. In cultivation, it should be watered regularly between March and October, and given a deep pot to ensure adequate drainage. Strong sunlight overwinter is necessary to ensure flowering. It requires a greenhouse in cold climates, as it can only survive to for short periods of time. It is very difficult to repot and shows handling marks with even a ginger touch. Instead it is preferable to simply cut off pups or the top of the plant and propagate those.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1280457 Flora of Mexico websterianus