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Brain cactus
Brain Cactus (Stenocactus multicostatus).jpg
Stenocactus multicostatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Core eudicots
Order:
Caryophyllales
Family:
Cactaceae
Subfamily:
Cactoideae
Tribe:
Cacteae
Genus:
Stenocactus
Species:
S. multicostatus
Binomial name
Stenocactus multicostatus
(Daul) A.Berger
Synonyms
List
  • Brittonrosea lloydii (Britton & Rose) Speg.
    *Brittonrosea multicostata (Hildm.) Speg.
    *Brittonrosea zacatecasensis (Britton & Rose) Speg.
    *Echinocactus lloydii (Britton & Rose) A.Berger
    *Echinocactus multicostatus Daul
    *Echinocactus multicostatus Rebut
    *Echinocactus zacatecasensis A.Berger
    *Echinofossulocactus lloydii Britton & Rose
    *Echinofossulocactus multicostatus (Daul) Britton & Rose
    *Echinofossulocactus multicostatus var. coahuilensis Fric
    *Echinofossulocactus multicostatus var. zacatecasensis (Britton & Rose) Lodé
    *Echinofossulocactus zacatecasensis Britton & Rose
    *Efossus lloydii (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
    *Efossus multicostatus (Daul) Orcutt
    *Efossus zacatecasensis (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
    *Stenocactus lloydii A.Berger
    *Stenocactus zacatecasensis (A.Berger) A.Berger

Stenocactus multicostatus, the brain cactus, is a member of the cactus family native to the deserts of Mexico, and is popular in the gardening community. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Though it has only been reported in the shrublands of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas, it has yet to be assessed using the IUCN Categories and Criteria because its taxonomy is still unclear.

It grows up to 2.5 in (6 cm) tall, 2.4 to 4 in (6–10 cm) wide. It has nearly 100 thin ribs around the outside, each with six to nine spines. The upper spines are wider, at 1.6 to 3.2 in (4–8 cm) long, while the lower ones are shorter, at 0.2 to 0.6 in (5–15 mm) long. The flower is white to purple, 0.8 to 2 in (2–5 cm) in diameter with many stamens.

Stenocactus multicostatus pm
Brain cactus in bloom

See also

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