Texas Wildbuds
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus
(Southwest Texas Strawberry Cactus)
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6922
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6925
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6934
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6952
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6931
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 3675
Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 3676
| Scientific Name | Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. brevispinus (Echinocereus enneacanthus var. brevispinus Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. carnosus) |
USDA PLANTS Symbol | ECENB |
| Common Name | Southwest Texas Strawberry Cactus, Stawberry Cactus, Pitaya | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 912508 |
| Family | Cactaceae (Cactus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Desert environments; gravelly, sandy and limestone soils in open, scrub areas and flats along the Rio Grande; from 1000 to 3000 ft. Plant: Clumps of several to many pickle-shaped stems, each up to 6 inches long and 2 to 4 inches across, medium to light green or yellowish green. Pads & Spines: Stems with 7 to 10 ribs; areoles 3/8 to 3/4-inch apart; 1 to 3 stout central spines up to 1-3/4 inches long, straight, flattened or angular; 6 to 9 radial spines 3/8 to 3/4-inch long. Inflorescence: Pink to magenta funnel-shaped flowers on each stem, up to 3-1/8 inches long and 2-3/4 to 3-1/2 inches across; throat is dark red near base of tepals; filaments greenish to pink, anthers yellow; 6 to 12 green stigma lobes. Bloom Period: April and May. References: "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell, Flora of North America and E. enneacanthus ssp. carnosus in iNaturalist. Note: Similar appearance to E. stramineus ssp. stramineus except that it usually has fewer stems arranged in a flat cluster rather than a congested mound, stems have fewer ribs, and it generally grows at lower elevations. |
BONAP Distribution Map
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Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025