Echinocactanae

ECHINOCACTANAE (ee-ky-noh-kak’tan-ee) – A division (sub-tribe) of the Cereeae, a group of cacti. It includes not only the Echinocactus, sometimes known as the hedgehog cactus, but many others of considerable interest. Some of these genera and representative species are : Ariocarpus – Ariocarpus fissuratus (Living Rock) ; Lophophora – Lophophora williamsi, the famous and much discussed Peyote or Mescal Button, an Aztec narcotic ; Astrophytum, including the much prized “Bishops Cap” ; Epithelantha (Button Cactus) ; Homalocephala (Devils Pincushion) ; Ferocactus, to which belongs the Barrel Cactus.