Origin and Habitat: Ixmiquilpan, Mexico.

• Thelocactus leucacanthus var. ehrenbergii (Pfeiff.) Bravo
• Echinocactus ehrenbergii Pfeiff.
• Thelocactus ehrenbergii (Pfeiff.) F.M.Knuth in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth

• Thelocactus leucacanthus (Zucc. ex Pfeiff.) Britton & Rose
• Cereus maelenii Pfeiff.
• Cereus tuberosus Pfeiff.
• Echinocactus leucacanthus Zucc. in Pfeiff. ex Pfeiff.
• Ferocactus leucacanthus (Zucc.) N.P.Taylor
• Thelocactus leucacanthus var. ehrenbergii (Pfeiff.) Bravo
• Echinocactus ehrenbergii Pfeiff.
• Thelocactus ehrenbergii (Pfeiff.) F.M.Knuth in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Thelocactus leucacanthus var. porrectus (Lem.) Backeb.
• Echinocactus porrectus Lem.
• Thelocactus porrectus (Lem.) F.M.Knuth in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth

• Thelocactus leucacanthus subs. schmollii (Werderm.) Mosco & Zanov.
• Thelocactus leucanthus var. schmollii Werderm.

Description: Thelocactus leucacanthusSN|1067]]SN|1067]] var. ehrenhergii (syn: Thelocactus ehrenhergii and Echinocactus ehrenhergii) is a cespitose cactus species that forms dense cushions. It is generally included within (as a synonym of) Thelocactus leucacanthus, suggesting that there is not really a fundamental difference between the two, but T. ehrenhergii usually has pink-rose flowers while T. leucacanthus has mostly yellow flowers. The description of Britton and Rose (Cactaceae:1923) included the following information: “...We are inclined to refer here Echinocactus ehrenhergii Pfeiffer (Allg. Gartenz. 6: 275. 1838), which, according to Schumann, also came from Ixmiquilpan, Mexico. In his monograph Schumann describes the flowers as yellow like those of E. leucacanthus, but in his English Keys he says that the flowers are rose-red. Dr. Rose, who collected in this region in 1905, found only one species of this relationship...”
For more details see: Thelocactus leucacanthusSN|1067]]SN|1067]]

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” volume 4, 1923

Cultivation and Propagation: Thelocactus ehrenhergii is a summer grower species easy to cultivate. Water regularly from Spring to Autumn, but do not overwater, can become too elongated if compost is too rich. Requires full sun or light shade and careful watering to keep plant compact with strong coloured spines. Needs good drainage and very porous potting mix, In Winter, keep dry.
Reproduction: From seed or by cuttings as it produces many basal plantlets.