Echinocereus stramineus

(Engelm.) F. Seitz

Mexican strawberry, Porcupine hedgehog cactus

Cactaceae Edible: Fruit 4,942 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Echinocereus stramineus is a species of cactus, with stramineus meaning made of straw. There are various common names such as strawberry cactus, porcupine hedgehog cactus, straw-color hedgehog, and pitaya. The straw-colored spines distinguishes this particular plant from other Echinocereus. The aged spines may turn white in color and are very fragile.

Description

A cactus which forms clumps. It grows 30-45 cm high and spreads 0.4-2 m wide. The stems are pale green. They are 25 cm long by 8 cm wide at the base. There are 10-13 lumpy ribs with deep furrows. The spine spots are round and small and white. They are about 1.5 cm apart. There are 7-14 spines which radiate out and they are white and 3 cm long. In the centre there are 1-4 spines which are 4-8.5 cm long. The flowers are purple-pink. They are funnel shaped and 6-12 cm long and wide. The fruit are very fleshy and smell and taste like strawberries.

Edible Uses

The fruits are eaten raw and have a slightly acid taste.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They are slightly acid.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It needs good light. It suits limestone soils. It needs a temperature above 10°C. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Where It Grows

Australia, Mexico, North America, USA,

Notes

There are about 60 Echinocereus species.

References (19)

Anderson, E.F., 2001, The Cactus Family, Timber Press p 249
Astrada, E., et al, 2007, Ethnobotany in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 3:8
Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 527
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 63

Show all 19 references

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 63 (As Echinocereus conglomeratus)
Fouqué, A. 1972. Espèces fruitières d'Amérique tropicale. Institut français de recherches fruitierès outre-mer (As Echinocereus conglomeratus)
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 91
Innes, C. and Glass, C., 1997, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cacti. Sandstone Books. p 77
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 328 (As Echinocereus conglomeratus)
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1836
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1836 (As Echinocerus conglomeratus)
Loughmiller, C & L., 1985, Texas Wildflowers. A Field Guide. University of Texas, Austin. p 24
Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 86 (As Echinocereus conglomeratus)
Piedra-Malagón, E. M. et al, 2022, Edible native plants of the Gulf of Mexico Province. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e80565 p 15
Segura, S. et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793
Subik, R., & Kunte, L., 2003, The Complete Encyclopedia of Cacti. Rebo publishers. p 43
Uphof, (As Echinocereus conglomeratus)
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew