About Echinocactus texensis Hopffer
Echinocactus texensis Hopffer, also classified as Homalocephala texensis, is commonly known as the Texas star cactus. It grows as a solitary cactus with flattened, spherical stems that reach 12 to 20 centimeters in height and up to 30 centimeters in diameter. Its ribbed surface has 13 to 27 ribs, and is covered in densely packed, stout, tapering reddish spines that show noticeable transverse banding. This species produces one stiff, downward-curving, flattened central spine that measures 3 to 7.5 centimeters long, and is always longer than its radial spines. It has 5 to 7 spreading, flattened radial spines that range from 2.5 to 5 centimeters in length. Its flowers are light pink to white with red centers, and measure 5 to 6 centimeters in both length and diameter. The cactus bears fleshy red fruits that ripen to around 5 centimeters in length, with a diameter of 2.5 to 3.8 centimeters. It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert, occurring in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, and in the U.S. states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. It grows at elevations from 0 to 1400 meters, in scrubland, limestone hills, and oak woodlands.
