A common and poular Genus with collectors, many species are summer blooming Cacti. The name is derived from the Greek "dolikos" for long, and "thele" for nipple or breast.

Native to Tampaulipas Mexico. A rapid growing, spherical Cactus that reaches up to 8 cm in diameter at maturity. Also classified as a mammilaria. Each areole is topped with 30 - 35 thin white spines. Flowers are strongly scented, funnel shaped, and yellow to greenish in color. Fruit is oval and gray-green. Older plants are known to send out basal shoots.

Propagated by seed or shoots.

Bright green tubercles with weak spines. Has a thick taproot. . Has bright, glossy yellow funnel shaped flowers that are 6 cm (3 inches) across. Found in Hidalgo Mexico. Once classified as Mammillaria. This species is characterised by a conical shape and long, soft tubercles. It also has large, bright yellow, funnel shaped flowers. Older plants form large clusters of a great many tillers.

Has large deep roots and needs a deep pot. Propagate by seed or basal shoots. Keep dry during its dormant season.

Also classified as Mammillaria melaleuca. Native to Tampaulipas Mexico near Jaumave.

Soft, dark green tubercles at the tips, fading to near white at their bases. Low growing, bunching habit. Areoles each bear 12 - 15 pale yellow spines about 1 cm long. Has a large, fleshy root. Clusters grow to 50 cm wide. Flowers are funnel shaped and yellow. The oblong fruit si greenish white with crimson, and is scented. Native to Southern Texas to northern Mexico. First discovered near Corpus Cristi in 1853 by A. Dietrich.

Keep warm and spray with water in the winter. Propagate by seed or basal shoots.

Also classified as Mammillaria surculosa. Native to the Mexico states of Tamaulipas, Miquihuana and San Luis Potos.

This plant is dentified by its long, conical taproot and its 3 - 6 slender, radial spines per areole. Tubercles are conical to cylindrical, up to 3 cm long and rather thinly spaced. Spherical growth habit to 7 cm high, but will form clumps of tillers when older. Was once classified as a Mammillaria. Has red flowers with yellow center segments. First described by Zuccarini in 1837. Native to state of Hidalgo, Mexico.

Needs a large pot to accomadate its thick, fleshy taproot. Easy to grow, but difficult to make flower. Propagate by seed or basal shoots.

This Genus consists of just 6 species. Named after the Greek word "echino", meaning porcupine, because of their strong dense spines.

An easy to grow, clump forming, summer blooming genus that is fairly small in stature. There are about 50 different species known to exist. Most species of these Cacti are well protected from predators with their numerous large, sharp spines. The name of this Genus is derived from the Greek "echinos" for porcupine.

There is about 45 species of Echinocereus living from Mexico to the south of the United States. The first part of the genus name Echinocereus is coming from the Greek for 'hedgehog', while the second part 'cereus' comes from the Latin for 'large candle'.

Echinocereus blanckii -Native from Northern Mexico to the Southwestern U.S..

Native to Southern New Mexico and Western texas.

Native to South of Marathon Texas.

Native to Chihuahua, Mexico, North to Western Texas. Also classified as Echinocereus chloranthus v. russanthus.

( Pitallito ) A small cactus with white spines and 10 cm long red flowers. Plant branches from the base with a cluster of stems to 20 cm long. 7 - 9 slightly tuberculate bibs with pale yellow areoles. Revered by the Huichols of Mexico as one of the false Peyotes. The Tarahumara consider it to produce high mental qualities, and sing to it while it is being collected. Native to the Sonora and Southwest Chihuaha deserts and the Durango State of Mexico. Can also be classified as Echinocereus scheeri. Grows wild in the more temperate regions of the Mediterranean.

Propagate by basal shoots. Has been cultivated in Europe for a long time, exact date of introduction is unknown.

( Claret Cup Cactus ) From more arid regions but similar to Pitallito. Revered as a false Peyote by the Tarahumara. A hardy cluster mound forming species, growing to 60 cm. Has brilliant red cup shaped flowers and edible strawberry flavored fruit, much prized as a delicacy. There are reportedly several varieties, most of which are endangered in the wild. The variety arizonicus has been declared endangered in the U.S.A. in 1976. Widely distributed from Northern Chihuahua in Mexico to New Mexico, Northeast Arizona, Southern Colorado and Western Texas.

The name of this Genus is derived from the Greek "echinos" for porcupine, and "mastos" for breast.

This Genus is named after the Greek "echinos" for porcupine and "opsis" for appearance as it looks like a rolled up hedgehog.

Native from Southern Brazil to Argentina.

Native to Paraguay and Northwest Argentina.

Native to the States of Tucuman, Salta and Catamarca in Argentina.

The name of this Genus is derived from the Greek "epi" for upon and "phyllon" for leaf, since the flowers seem to emerge from the stems which look like leaves.

This species is also classified as Zygocactus truncatus.

The name of this Genus is derived from the Greek "epi" for upon, "thele" for nipple and "anthos" for flower.

This Genus is native to Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Brazil. The name of this Genus commemerates the Peruvian botanist, Nicholas Esposto.

Found in northern Peru. This species is characterized by its hairy, ramifying trunk which grows to 4 meters high. Branches spread out from the upper stem. Has 20 to 30 rounded ribs with closely spaced areoles. Each areole has a tuft and many short yellow hairs, crowned by short radial spines with red tips. Bears white, nocturnal flowers to 5 cm long. First described in 1823.

A slow growing variety that will tolerate partial shade. Keep warm in winter. Propagate by cuttings.