Echinocereus Species, California Hedgehog, Mexican Claret-Cup

This species is easily and often confused with Echinocereus triglochidiatus and is frequently found in nature to hybridize with it.
...Read More This species is used medicinally as a heart stimulant.
The 'coccineus' subspecies has stems that are 1 to 2 inches thick with 8 to 11 ribs. The spines nondifferentiatable between centrals & radials. There are 0 to 4 central spines and 5 to 20 radial spines per areole. The red-orange flower is 3 inches across and the stigma has 7 or 8 lobes.
The 'arizonicus' variety is listed as an endangered species.
The 'paucispinus' variety has stems that are about 2.4 inches thick with 5 to 8 acute narrowly furrowed ribs that have areoles that are 0.4 to 0.8 inches spaced. It has 0 or 1 central spine 1.4 inches long and 3 to 6 radial spines that are curved and straight. The flower is red with a hint of orange & shaped like a funnel about 2 inches long having 7 lobes of the stigma.
The 'gurneyi' variety clumps to over 10 stems that are darker green in color compared to the other varieties and 4 inches thick. The stems have 8 to 11 ribs that have 1 central spine up to 3 inches long and 5 to 12 radial spines per areole. The flowers are Orangish-red. This variety is often included into the 'coccineus' subspecies.
The 'toroweapensis' cultivar at one time was considered to be a subspecies.