Publication: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 41: 127. 1969
Description
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus (a.k.a. Echinocereus perbellus) is a subspecies of the very variable Echinocereus reichenbachii. It has no central spine, fewer than 20 radials which are variegated, spreading and less pectinate than in E. reichenbachii. It flowers quite readily making this species a very beautiful one at flowering time, which is usually May to June.<br />
Taxonomy note: Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus is at best a doubtful subspecies, and certainly not a separate species. A pure population of Echinocereus perbellus with 12-15 radials and no centrals, unmixed with any other population is found only near Muleshoe, Bailey County, Texas, elsewhere it usually grows associated with Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. caespitosus and intermediates with spine number ranging from 12 to 30 could be found linking entirely these two entities and there are not separate species at all.
Habit: It is a low growing cactus species both solitary or forming clusters.
Stem: Erect, cylindrical or short cylindrical, 5 to 10 cm high.
Ribs: 13-15, low and broad.
Areoles: Elliptic elongated very closely set; distance between the areoles about equal to the length of the areoles themselves.
Spines: All radials, 12-15(-20), spreading but not widely, 5 to 7 mm long, pale brown to reddish or nearly white below.
Central spines: Almost always missing (or rarely 1, straight, terete).
Flowers: 1-3 per plant, diurnal, very showy, abundant, scented, pink-purple to scarlet, 4 to 6 cm long and wide; perianth-segments crimson at base, broad, oblong to oblanceolate, acuminate, nearly 4 cm. long; areoles on flower-tube very woolly as well as spiny.
Blooming season: Late April/Early May to Late June.
Fruits: Ovoid green, olive green, or dark green, fruit up to 28 mm long; fruiting 1.5-2.5 months after flowering.
Seeds: Black.
Origin and Habitat
Great Plains grassland in Colorado, New Mexico, and from central Texas to the western edge of Oklahoma.
Type locality: Big Springs, Texas.
Altitude: 1200-2000 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in dry grassland often on limestone outcrops and rimrock in bottom of valleys.
Cultivation and Propagation
Echinocereus reichenbachii subs. perbellus is fairly easy to grow. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone) needs a very good drainage to avoid rotting, but requires more moisture than true desert cacti to grow and produce flowers.
Hardiness: It its natural environment it is very cold resistant from -10° to -25° C (depending on clones) or less for short periods of time. It can be grown outdoors in Mediterranean warm-temperate climates, But for safe cultivations needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Uses: It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering plants.
Propagation: Seeds, also can be grown from cutting as it slowly branches from the base. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Brian Loflin, Shirley Loflin “Texas Cacti: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 26/ott/2009
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Albert Michael Powell, James F. Weedin “Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas” Texas Tech University Press, 2004
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Del Weniger “Cacti of the Southwest: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana” University of Texas Press, 1969
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“Rare Plants of Texas: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 2007
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Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Volume 3, 1922
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Campbell Loughmiller “Texas Wildflowers” University of Texas Press, 2006
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Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names.” Birkhäuser 2004
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Alfred Richardson “Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species” Texas A&M University Press, 2010
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Lyman David Benson “The Cacti of the United States and Canada” Stanford University Press, 1982
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Ronald C. Wittmann, William A. Weber “Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope, Third Edition: Eastern Slope, Third Edition” O’Reilly Media, Inc., 18/mag/2011
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