Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 31

Novillo Hedgehog Cactus: Echinocereus bristolii

Range: Sonoran, Mexico.

Typical Size: 6 inches.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Soft green colored

with short white spines.

Habitat: Desert scrubland, desert grasslands, rocky

slopes, volcanic soils.

Interesting Observations: The Novillo Hedgehog

Cactus grows in clusters.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 32

Pachycereus Gatesii: Lophocereus gatesii

Range: Native to Arizona.

Typical Size: 4 to 8 feet.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Spines are focused

at the top of each arm. They are colored
yellowish-green to green.

Habitat: Desert.

Interesting Observations: The spines are more

focused at the top of the arms then at the base.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 33

Pine Cone Cactus: Tephrocactus articulatus

Range: The Pine Cone Cactus originates
from Argentina but can be found in parts
of Arizona.

Typical Size: Around 12 inches.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The

Pine Cone Cactus looks like a long pine
cone growing out of the ground.

Habitat: Desert regions.

Interesting Observations: The only

thing initially distinguishing it from a
pine cone is that it was growing straight
out of the ground.

Interesting Facts: The Pine Cone

Cactus when in bloom has white flowers.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 34

Roundleaf Buffaloberry:
Range: The Roundleaf Buffaloberry is native to the
Colorado Plateau.

Typical Size: The Roundleaf Buffaloberry Bush

grows around 3 to 6 feet.

Distinguishing/Key Features:

Habitat: Desert area.

Interesting Observations: The underside of the

Roundleaf Buffaloberry leaves had soft hairs.

Interesting Facts: The name originates from settlers using the berries in with cooked Buffalo
meat.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 35

Saguaro Cactus: Carnegiea gigantea

Range: The Saguaro can be found in southern Arizona and western Sonora,
Mexico.

Typical Size: A ten year old Saguaro might be only 1.5 inches tall. A full grown
Saguaro ranges in size between 40 and 60 feet tall.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The

Saguaro is a large tree like cactus that is
colored light to medium green. The large
cactus gets white flowers that develop into
red fruit.

Habitat: Saguaros are only found in the

Sonoran desert.

Interesting Observations: Saguaros

have strong enough taproots that they can
grow out of rock faces.