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Plant Profile

Arizona Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus)

Flowers of Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus Photo Credit: Kathy Rice

Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Cactaceae
State: AZ
Nature Serve ID: 156832
Lifeform: Shrub
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/09/1992

Description:

The Arizona hedgehog is a multi-stemmed columnar cactus up to 40 cm tall, with 10 tuberculate ribs. There can be up to fifty stems in a single clump, but it is more common to find clumps with 5-10 stems. Along the ribs, at growing points called areoles, clusters of 1-3 gray or pinkish central spines, with the longest spine curving down. The flowers are brilliant red, with yellow anthers and a green stigma. The brilliant red flower color is one of the characters distinguishing Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus from other varieties of Echinocereus triglochidiatus. Typical Arizona hedgehog cacti differ from E. t. melanacanthus in that the stems are larger, more robust, and notably fewer in number. Intergradation between E.t. var arizonicus, and E.t. var. neomexicanus occurs along the southeastern limits of its range.

Where is Arizona Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Plants are found on the rocky slopes of granitic canyons at elevations of 3,500 to 5,400 ft, and are endemic to chapparal habitats in central Arizona. They also grow on slopes in Arizona desert grassland, in or near the Superstition Mountains, an area with a high proportionate incidence of endemic plant species. Interior Chaparral and Madrean evergreen Woodland; also into desert grassland. Often with the following associated species: Quercus tufbinella, Quercus emoryi, Arctostaphyllos pungens, Cercocarpus montanus, Nolina Microcarpa, Dasyliron wheeleri, Agave chrysantha, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Pinus monophylla, Juniperus erythrocarpa and Rhus trilobata.

Distribution:

Central Arizona, Pinal and Gila Counties. Pinal, Dripping springs, Superstition And Mescal Mountains. Highlands between Globe and Superior. Devils Chasm has dacite substrate (Queen Creek), Gila/Pin

States & Provinces:

Arizona Hedgehog Cactus can be found in Arizona

Which CPC Partners conserve Arizona Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus)?

Desert Botanical Garden

Conservation Actions

Raul Puente

06/12/2023

In October 2021 staff from Desert Botanical Garden, Tonto National Forest and USFWS, started a new Section 6 project with the goal of asexually propagating 300 Echinocereus arizonicus subsp. arizonicus plants to be used to augment populations in its native range. Stems were harvested from wild plants and taken to Desert Botanical Garden to root for a period of 10-12 months. New produced plants were planted in three sites in January and March of 2023. Project leaders: Raul Puente, Lane Butler and Steve Blackwell.

Tina Stanley

08/29/2022

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum holds this species in living collection and has experience with propagating this species ex-situ.

Center for Plant Conservation

10/07/2021

In accordance with the CPC and USFS Rare Plant Seed Banking Agreement, in July 2017, Steve Blackwell of Desert Botanic Garden (DBG) and Kathy Robertson (USFWS) collected over 1557 seeds from 3 maternal plants at Pinto Creek. In June 2018, Steve Blackwell, Raul Puente and other DBG staff collected over 13,000 seeds from 12 mother plants from the Pinto Creek population. Volunteers at DBG processed seeds and accessioned into the DBG’s Living Collections database. The seeds were divided and stored between the Desert Botanic Garden and the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, CO.

Center for Plant Conservation

10/07/2021

In July 2017, Steve Blackwell of Desert Botanic Garden (DBG) and Kathy Robertson (USFWS) conducted an initial collection of Echinocereus arizonicus (also known as Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus) seeds from Pinto Creek in anticipation of possible population damage caused by the demolition and construction of a bridge in Tonto National Forest. The collection resulted in over 1557 seeds from 3 maternal plants. In June 2018, Steve Blackwell, Raul Puente and other DBG staff collected over 13,000 seeds from 12 mother plants from the Pinto Creek population. Volunteers at DBG processed seeds and accessioned into the DBG’s Living Collections database.

09/09/2020

As of 2012, research staff at the Desert Botanical Garden are engaging in DNA analysis for taxonomic studies using DNA extracted from cactus spines.

09/09/2020

Seeds have been collected for propagation by the USDA Forest Service. These are held and have been grown at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum. The source of these seeds and the fate of the plants grown from them is unknown.

09/09/2020

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to a mountainous area in south-central Arizona. Overcollection is a major threat, as is the potential of habitat loss due to open-pit mining.

Kathy Rice, Steven Blackwell

01/01/2010

The immediate threat to this taxon is copper mining. A large copper mining company is in the final stages of permitting and is planning to begin mining soon. Because the process of mining copper requires large amounts of water, dredging of the nearby Pi

Kathy Rice, Steven Blackwell

01/01/2010

7 known populations

Kathy Rice, Steven Blackwell

01/01/2010

Seeds have been collected for propagation by the USDA Forest Service. These are held and have been grown at the Boyce-Thompson Arbopretum. The source of these seeds and the fate of the plants grown from them is unknown. As of 2012, research staff at the Desert Botanical Garden are engaging in DNA analysis for taxonomic studies using DNA extracted from cactus spines.

Kathy Rice, Steven Blackwell

01/01/2010

Most plants occur on lands administered by the USDA Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, Globe Ranger District, including plants within the Superstition Wilderness area. Some plants also occur on private property.

Kathy Rice, Steven Blackwell

01/01/2010

Complete chormosomal studies are needed. Zimmerman (1989) recommended a morphological study of Echinocereus populations on a transect from the type locality up into the pinal Mountains to determine of var. arizonicus is conspecific with the ordinary E. coccineus that grows on Pinal Peak. E. Anderson does not recognize E. triglochidiatus v. arizonicus in his book, the Cactus Family (2000). Additional Surveys are needed, especially in the eastern Superstition Mountains. If identification is questionalbe, photos and habitat notes should be brought in for examination by taxonomic specialists.

Kathy Rice, Steven Blackwell

01/01/2010

Additional seed collections should be made, even though the plants may be of hybrid origin. Plants should be grown from seeds for chromosome and detailed morphological studies.