Santa Rita Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus santaritensis is a multistem columnar cactus that branches from the base. The cylindrical stems are 30 cm (12 in) long and have a diameter of 5.5 cm (2.2 in). There are nine to ten clearly blunt ribs, which are densely spiny with areoles 1 cm (0.39 in) apart. There are up to ten yellow to gray radial spines and three to four central spines that are 2.5 to 4 cm (0.98 to 1.57 in). The tubular-funnel-shaped flowers are bisexual, red-orange, 5 to 11 cm (2.0 to 4.3 in) long and 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) diameter with a long 5 cm (2.0 in) style. Chromosome count is 2n=44 This species is distinguished by its perfect flowers, 5 cm long styles, and areoles with hairs.

This species is found growing on rocky slopes and outcrops in southern Arizona in the Little Ajo Mountains and Tucson Mountains, New Mexico and Mexico in Sonora and Chihuahua above 1070 meters growing along Juniperus arizonica and Vauquelinia californica.