Welcome to Catnapin's

Prickly Succulent Gallery

Barrel-shaped and Ribbed Cactus

        

Cactaceae - Cactus family
Lace Cactus (Purple Candle, Echinocereus) Echinocereus reichenbachii
Flower about 2" wide. Barrels start off round balls but elongate as they age. They range in size up to 3" wide and 8" tall. These cacti can be found singly, branched, or in large groups. These flourish in Permian red dirt.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Callahan, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

Claret Cup (Red Flowered Hedgehog) Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Variable cactus with ribs, round to barrel shaped, forms colonies. Spines cover the cactus, long yellow/white but a few varieties have very few spines. Dark red to orange-red flowers, funnel shaped, 3" wide. Pollinated by hummingbirds.
(Native of Texas - Coke)

  

Cactaceae - Cactus family
Horse Crippler (Devils Pincushion) Echinocactus texensis
Broad and flat ribbed cactus can be 12" wide. Spines are very thick. Flower is pink with red center (no photo). Fruit is edible and tasty (no photo). This cactus can live for decades. These grow in limy gravel above Permian red dirt. Hated by ranchers because they injured horses and cattle. These cactus are becoming rare.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

        

Cactaceae - Cactus family
? Common Name **zc 2** Scientific Name
Flower about 3" wide. Ball shaped cactus, 3" wide. Spines are yellow with dark bases and they do not obscure the lumpy ribs. Areoles are only slightly fuzzy. The original plant froze during a hard winter snow. It looked like a goner. Good thing I procrastinated digging it up.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004
(Purchased)