Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Coryphantha echinus

Coryphantha echinus is a species of cactus known by the common names of sea urchin cactus, hedgehog Cory cactus or rhinoceros cactus. C. echinus is found in the south and east portion of the Trans-Pecos to Del Rio, Chihuahua, Coahuila and sporadically in the northeast Trans-Pecos. The plant normally occurs in solitary groupings, but sometimes grows as a clump. It produces short-lived yellow flowers that last for a couple of hours between April and July. After flowering, it produces green fruits.

Last revised
Jul 5, 2026
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Length
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Citations
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Coryphantha echinus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Coryphantha
Species:
C. echinus
Binomial name
Coryphantha echinus
(Engelm.) Britton & Rose1
Synonyms

Mammillaria echinus Engelm.

Coryphantha echinus is a species of cactus known by the common names of sea urchin cactus, hedgehog Cory cactus2 or rhinoceros cactus.3 C. echinus is found in the south and east portion of the Trans-Pecos to Del Rio, Chihuahua, Coahuila and sporadically in the northeast Trans-Pecos.2 The plant normally occurs in solitary groupings, but sometimes grows as a clump.4 It produces short-lived yellow flowers that last for a couple of hours between April and July.42 After flowering, it produces green fruits.2

Coryphantha echinus was first collected by Charles Wright in 1849 and was later described as Mammillaria echinus by George Engelmann.2

References

References

  1. "Coryphantha echinus". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  2. Morey, Roy (2008). Little Big Bend : Common, Uncommon, and Rare Plants of Big Bend National Park. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. p. 46. ISBN 9780896726130. OCLC 80359503.
  3. "Plants Profile for Coryphantha echinus (rhinoceros cactus)". USDA. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  4. "Coryphantha echinus: Terry, M., Heil, K., Corral-Díaz, R., Dicht, R.F. & Lüthy, A.D." 2009-11-18. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2017-3.rlts.t152140a121460549.en. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)