Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
11 ratings

Monday - May 11, 2009

From: Eagle Pass, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: Which cactus grow in the Eagle Pass, Texas area?
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I would like to know which types of cacti grow in my area since I can't seem to find any websites that may give me a way to identify them. The type I seek is the round type of cacti not nopal types. Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon.

ANSWER:

According to Turner's Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas the following cactus are found in Maverick County, Texas:

Ariocarpus fissuratus (chautle livingrock)

Coryphantha echinus (rhinoceros cactus)

Coryphantha sulcata (pineapple cactus)

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (Christmas cactus) [syn. Opuntia leptocaulis]

Echinocactus texensis (horse crippler)

Echinocereus enneacanthus (pitaya)

Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. fitchii (lace hedgehog cactus) [syn. Echinocereus fitchii]

Mammillaria heyderi (little nipple cactus)

Opuntia phaeacantha (tulip pricklypear)

Sclerocactus scheeri (Scheer's fishhook cactus) [syn.  Ancistrocactus scheeri]

Additionally, the following have been reported from the adjacent counties of Kinney, Zavala and/or Dimmitt:

Echinocactus horizonthalonius (devilshead)

Echinocereus papillosus (Allicoche hedgehog cactus) and photos

Mammillaria prolifera var. texana (Texas nipple cactus)

Opuntia atrispina (border pricklypear)

Opuntia engelmannii (cactus apple)

Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp. tobuschii (shorthook fishhook cactus)

 

From the Image Gallery


Chautle livingrock
Ariocarpus fissuratus

Rhinoceros cactus
Coryphantha echinus

Pineapple cactus
Coryphantha sulcata

Tasajillo
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

Horse crippler
Echinocactus texensis

Pitaya
Echinocereus enneacanthus

Little nipple cactus
Mammillaria heyderi

Tulip prickly pear
Opuntia phaeacantha

Scheer's fishhook cactus
Ancistrocactus scheeri

Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius

Texas nipple cactus
Mammillaria prolifera var. texana

Border pricklypear
Opuntia atrispina

More Cacti and Succulents Questions

Will the blooming stalk of my century plant eventually tip over? Yes
June 24, 2009 - I have a century plant in bloom. Will the stalk eventually tip over? Would appreciate any Internet references on the subject.
view the full question and answer

Should an agave bloom stalk be cut as soon as it flowers from Corpus Christi TX
May 18, 2010 - My agave plant is flowering, with a stalk approaching 12 feet tall. Should that stalk be cut once it flowers? I am concerned about wind catching it and pulling the whole plant out of the ground. I ...
view the full question and answer

Trimming of dead foliage on trunks of yucca in California
December 21, 2008 - There is a Yucca plant in the back yard. I want to know how to get the old foliage that has died off of the trunks, it looks kind of ragged. The foliage is about three feet from the green. Can you ...
view the full question and answer

Identification of green succulent plant with red tubular flowers
October 08, 2007 - Hi there, i have this plant which is green,leaves are succulent, and these red tubular little flowers about an inch long grow rampantly all summer. i wanna know what it is called as i take cuttings a...
view the full question and answer

Century plant dying after bloom
April 06, 2006 - Help!! I want to save my Century Plant from dying. I have already lost one and I don't want to lose this one. Can cutting the stalk before it gets too big save this beautiful plant? Please, pleas...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Bibliography

Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas (2003) Turner, B. L.; H. Nichols; G. Denny; O. Doron

Search More Titles in Bibliography