Echinocereus ortegae

The name of the species was chosen in honor of the Mexican botanist J.G. Ortega. It is a beloved columnar cactus, whose slender stems do not exceed a few centimeters of diameter, whilst they grow up to 40 cm in height. Accustomed to developing in wide tufts with multiple stems, E. ortegae has numerous tuberculated ribs, pleasantly dotted with white radial spines, thin and arranged in a radial pattern, and much longer central spines, robust and enriched by brownish shades. In spring the charm of this cactus is further amplified by gigantic funnel-shaped flowers of a lively orange-red hue.