Echinocereus triglochidiatus

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.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Echinocereus
Species:	E. triglochidiatus
Binomial name
Echinocereus triglochidiatus Engelm.
Synonyms
Echinocereus mojavensis

Close-up of Echinocereus triglochidiatus flower; Joshua Tree National Park, California

A number of varieties of this highly variable cactus species are known, but not all are universally recognized. In general, it is a mounding cactus, forming bulbous piles of a few to hundreds of spherical to cylindrical stems. It is densely spiny and somewhat woolly. The showy flower is a funnel-shaped bloom up to 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 inches) wide and bright scarlet red to orange-red tepals. A thick nectar chamber and many thready pink stamens are at the center of the corolla. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.

One variety, E. t. arizonicus, is federally listed as an endangered species in the United States.[2] It is limited to the intersection of Arizona and New Mexico in the United States with Mexico.[3] This variety is sometimes included within Echinocereus coccineus.[4]

The conservation status of several subspecies differs from that displayed. Examples include:

• E. t. var. arizonicus Arizona hedgehog cactus (endangered)
• E. t. var. melanacanthus black-spine claret-cup hedgehog (salvage restricted)
• E. t. var. neomexicanus Mexican claret-cup hedgehog (salvage restricted)

E. triglochidiatus is the official state cactus of Colorado.[5]