About Echinocereus pentalophus (DC.) Engelm. ex Haage
Echinocereus pentalophus (DC.) Engelm. ex Haage grows into richly branched, low, spreading clusters that can reach up to 1 meter in diameter. Its firm-fleshed, cylindrical shoots range in color from yellowish green to gray-green, measuring 20 to 70 cm (7.9 to 27.6 in) long and 1 to 6 cm (0.39 to 2.36 in) in diameter. This cactus has three to eight straight, mostly sharp-edged ribs that become tuberous as they mature. A single protruding yellowish to dark brown central spine up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long is usually present, but it may be absent entirely. It has three to eight straight, whitish to yellowish marginal spines, which grow up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long; the upper marginal spines are very short. The species produces broadly funnel-shaped flowers, which are most often bright pink to pale pink-magenta, and rarely white. The flower throats are either white or yellow. Flowers never grow near the tips of the shoots, and measure 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) long with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in). Its egg-shaped green fruits bear brown thorns and loose wool, and split open irregularly. This cactus species is distributed from San Luis Potosí state across northeastern Mexico, and extends into the southern Rio Grande Valley in southeastern Texas. It can also be found in the Mexican states of Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo and Querétaro.
