About Sclerocactus johnsonii (Parry ex Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
Sclerocactus johnsonii, also synonymized as Echinomastus johnsonii, is a cactus species with the common names Johnson's beehive cactus and Johnson's fishhook cactus. This species is native to the southwestern United States, ranging from eastern California to Utah, and to northwestern Mexico, where it grows in desert scrub habitat.
This cactus grows an egg-shaped or cylindrical stem that reaches a maximum size of 25 centimeters (10 inches) tall and 10 centimeters (4 inches) wide. The stem is densely covered in spines that can be either straight or curved; spines can grow up to 4 centimeters (1+1⁄2 inches) long, display colors including yellow, gray, lavender, pink, and red, and grow up to 24 spines per areole. The cactus produces flowers that can be yellow or pink, and the species is sometimes split into two varieties based on this flower color variation. Flowers can grow up to 8 centimeters (3+1⁄6 inches) wide. It bears scaly, fleshy fruit that reaches a maximum length of 1.8 centimeters (3⁄4 inch).
