Plant Profile: Engelmann’s Hedgehog Cactus
Posted on Mar 30, 2021
Strawberries of the Desert
By Kathleen M. McCoy, Master Naturalist, AZNPS Phoenix Chapter Member
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Many Echinocereus, including Engelmann’s hedgehog or Strawberry cactus (E. engelmannii), produce a very delicious fruit reported to taste a lot like strawberries (Eppel, 2012). The tiny red fruit, in keeping with the stature of the diminutive Engelmann’s hedgehog, comes from a 4 to 12 inch tall cylindrical cactus with 8 to 14 ribs. The inch-long fruit can be circular to egg-shaped with a fleshy white pulp. As the fruit reaches maturity, the deciduous spines fall off (Tibbits, 2020).
In contrast, its large 2 to 3 inch wide tubular flowers seem oversized. The brilliant flowers blossom from April to May ranging in color from bright magenta to pale pink, but only last for 5 days opening in the morning and closing at night.
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Native to the southwestern US and northern Mexico, this slow-growing succulent’s name is due to short, spiny stems which resemble hedgehogs. Their 2 inch curved radial spines may be red, yellow, white, or gray. Protection from rodents and other herbivores is provided by the sharp spines, sometimes covering the whole plant. The spines also give shade which keeps the stem at an optimal temperature. To reduce water loss, the cactus produces a waxy coat which is heaviest on the plant section receiving the most sun. In the evenings, Hedgehog cacti open their stomata (pores) to perform an oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2010).
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Found on hillsides, desert plains, and scrubland in generally dry, sunny locations, this perennial appears from sea level to 5,000 feet. They form medium-sized clusters or colonies with as many as 50 to 60 stems and spread 3 feet wide. The stems of these very common cacti are initially upright but with old age may fall to the ground and grow laterally.
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
At least 8 varieties of E. engelmannii are found in the Sonoran Desert and in garden nurseries as well. These pretty little succulents can be propagated from seeds sown in the spring or offsets grown from a base plant. To thrive, potted or wild, a Hedgehog cactus needs nearly full sun for 6 or more hours daily and good drainage (VanZile, 2021). Overwatering is likely to produce root rot. If potted, a small dose of diluted fertilizer once or twice a month will maintain a healthy plant.
As a food plant, hedgehog cacti have been used by indigenous peoples of the Southwest. Ripe fruit has been eaten raw and dried for future use, prepared as a sweet snack for children, and converted to a jam or jelly. The inner stem, described as a survival food, is best eaten boiled or roasted.
The Hedgehog cactus has additional properties valuable to desert dwellers and others. The soothing topical qualities of the inner stem can be applied to burns including sunburn. Taken internally, reports suggest that the inner stem also has potential to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels (Kane, 2020). Other than the prickly thorns, no cautions exist for the fruit or stems. The biggest challenge presented by the Hedgehog cactus is to find the ripe fruit before the birds and rodents have a special strawberry-flavored treat!
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Sources:
Eppel, A. (2012). Plants of Arizona: A Field Guide. Rowan and Littlefield: Helena, Montana.
Kane, C.W. (2020). Sonoran Desert Food Plants. Lincoln Town Press: USA.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2010). Echinocereus engelmannii. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ECEN
Tibbits, D. (2020). Hedgehog cactus information. SFGATE. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/hedgehog-cactus-information-43972.html
VanZile, J. (2021). How to grow Echinocereus cacti. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/grow-echinocereus-cactus-indoors-1902978
Plant Profile: New Mexico Thistle
Posted on Feb 28, 2021
Stop Before you Chop
By Kathleen M. McCoy, Master Naturalist, AZNPS Phoenix Chapter Member
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During early spring, the young Cirsium neomexicanum has already grown about 1 foot on its way to 6 feet in late summer. This prickly member of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae) is often considered a weed, unwanted, and dangerous. Before looking for a scythe, let’s take some time to evaluate this native desert plant.
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Common names for C. neomexicanum include New Mexico thistle, Desert thistle, Foss thistle, Lavender thistle, and Powderpuff thistle (Southwestern Desert Flora, 2020). It is scattered throughout most of Arizona as well as CA, CO, NM, NV, UT, and northwest Mexico, residing in multiple habitats, such as plains, hillsides, washes, roadsides, and even urban alleys.
From March to September, it produces pink, purple, lavender, or white fragrant and showy flowers up to 3 inches. The flower head is composed of many small flowers (florets) surrounded by modified or specialized leaves (brachts). The lower, outer brachts point downward, while the upper, inner bracts point upward and are somewhat twisted.
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
True thistles have spines along the leaf margins (Sivinski, 2016). New Mexico thistle’s spiny green or greenish-gray leaves have the lobes arranged on either side of a central axis like a feather (pinnately lobed) and can be up to 7 inches long.
Arizona and New Mexico each have 19 species in the genus Cirsium (Southwest Desert Flora, 2020). Native thistles support a wide variety of native pollinator and plant-eating insects, such as bees, butterflies, and moths by providing important habitat and food sources. Because native Cirsium spp. can be annual, biennial, or perennial, their nectar can help support pollinators year-round. In addition to drawing nectar and pollen from the flowers, many insects feed on the leaves, stems, and seeds.
Also, many songbirds are attracted to thistle seeds. A symbiotic relationship exists between American goldfinches and native thistles. Seeds and thistle down are food and nest building components critical to the bird’s survival. The timing of seed production and thistle down is related directly to the goldfinch breeding season. Because thistles are late bloomers and American goldfinches breed late in the summer, these birds have an abundance of seeds and thistle down to line their nests (Deane, n.d.). In return, the birds spread the thistle seed to additional areas.
Like its cousin the artichoke, New Mexico thistle is edible! Thistle stalks and taproots are sources of food for humans, but harvesting time is critical. Before the flowering stalks emerge, the taproots of young first-year plants can be dug up. At this early stage, the roots are tender and can be eaten raw or chopped up and added to soups or stews. Their texture has been described as crisp and crunchy with an almost nutty flavor. The stalks can also be consumed, but must be harvested when they are only about 1 to 2 feet high. (Beyond about 2 feet high the stalks are too fibrous and tough to eat.) Stalks can be peeled and eaten fresh or as a cooked vegetable. No significant medicinal uses for New Mexico thistle have been documented (Kane, 2020).
Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Most southwestern native thistles, including the New Mexico thistle, are non-aggressive and non-invasive (Karr, 2017). Native Cirsium spp. pose no fire risk and do not destructively displace native plants, thus remaining in equilibrium with other native flora. However, native thistles do reduce opportunity for invasive non-native thistles to populate a location.
Despite their benefits, native thistles are either knowingly or unknowingly killed simply because they are considered spiny “weeds.” In some areas, native thistle species are in danger of being complete eradicated. So, please, “stop before you chop!”
Sources:
Deane, G. (n.d.) Thistle: It’s That Spine of Year. http://www.eattheweeds.com/thistle-touch-me-not-but-add-butter-2/
Kane, C.W. (2020). Sonoran Desert food plants. Lincoln Town Press, USA.
Karr, L. (2017). Think Twice Before Killing Those Thistles: Thistle Identification. https://weedwise.conservationdistrict.org/2017/thistle-identification.html
Sivinski, R. (2016). New Mexico Thistle Identification Guide. http://www.npsnm.org/education/thistle-identification-booklet/
Southwest Desert Flora. (2020) Cirsium neomexicanum. http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Asteraceae/Cirsium%20neomexicanum,%20New%20Mexico%20Thistle.html
Invasive & Toxic Plants
Posted on Feb 01, 2021
The theme of the Winter 2020 issue of The Plant Press is invasive and toxic plants in Arizona. At our Chapter meeting in January, we had an engaging discussion about the articles and our experiences with invasive and toxic plants.
It was no surprise that most of us have experienced issues with stinknet (Oncosiphon pilulifer/piluliferum). To try to control stinknet on your property, our recommendation is to continually be on the lookout for it during the winter/spring season and take immediate action when you find seedlings. The top methods methods we’ve used to try to control stinknet and other invasives are:
- manual removal;
- hoeing or raking;
- chemical herbicides;
- applying a layer of mulch, landscape fabric, or cardboard; and
- natural herbicides, such agricultural grade vinegar.
Stinknet plants flowering. Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a toxic plant that has been problematic for some of us. We also felt more could be done to inform the public about which landscaping plants and weeds are toxic to humans and animals. Therefore, our Chapter plans to provide more information about toxic plants in the future.
Oleander is a common ornamental plant. Beware, it is poisonous to humans and animals. Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
If you couldn’t attend our meeting, you can still learn about Arizona’s invasive and toxic plants by reading the this issue of The Plant Press, particularly pages 1-24 and 27-31. The publication is freely available to everyone.
Also, if you need help identifying the most prolific invasive species in our area, Desert Defenders has a useful invasive plant fact sheet.
