{{Speciesbox |image =Echinocereus chisoensis var fobeanus pm 01.jpg |image_caption =Echinocereus chisoensis |name = Chisos Mountain hedgehog cactus |status = G2 |status_system = TNC |taxon = Echinocereus chisoensis |authority = W.T.Marsh |synonyms_ref= |synonyms=*Echinocereus chisosensis W.T.Marsh Echinocereus metornii G.Frank Echinocereus fobeanus' Oehme |}}Echinocereus chisoensis is a rare North American species of cactus known by the common name Chisos Mountain hedgehog cactus, native to the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico and the south-central United States.Echinocereus chisoensis is an inconspicuous plant, forming small loose clumps. Stems are up to 30 cm (1 foot) long, sometimes erect but sometimes partially reclining on the ground. Flowers can be up to 10 cm (4 inches) long, whitish along the throat, with red or purple spots near the base, and pink near the tips. Anthers are yellow, fruit green. Varieties There are two varieties of this species, both rare. Echinocereus chisoensis var. fobeanus The variety Echinocereus chisoensis var. fobeanus is known only from south of the Río Grande, between Coahuila and Durango in Mexico.Echinocereus chisoensis. The Nature Conservancy. This variety is sometimes regarded as a distinct species, Echinocereus fobeanus.Echinocereus chisoensis var. chisoensis The rare variety Echinocereus chisoensis var. chisoensis is known only from alluvial flats in desert scrub habitat. The soil is rocky and gravelly. It is endemic to Brewster County, Texas, with all occurrences located within Big Bend National Park. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States. Other plants in the area include creosote (Larrea tridentata) and lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla''). Creosote and similar shrubs act as nurse plants for the cactus. The "incredibly spectacular" pink flowers of this plant have made it a target for cactus collectors, who are a major threat to the survival of the species. There are only about 1000 individuals existing. Pollination Because it is self-incompatible, flowers of one cactus require pollen from another individual of the species for fertilization; when plants are rare and spread apart, the likelihood that a pollinator will stop at the plant and deliver the correct pollen is lower. When fruits are successfully produced, they are often taken by jackrabbits and rodents for food. Dry conditions may increase this herbivory and decrease pollinator abundance. See also Cryptantha crassipes Escobaria minima Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert References External links United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile — Echinocereus chisoensis chisoensis Cacti of Mexico Cacti of the United States Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert Flora of