Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar). The wild species occurs over a considerable range from USA (Texas: S TX in Bexar (San Antonio, Northern McMullen, along Rio Grande in Starr, Hidalgo, and Eastern Cameron.), Central and Eastern Mexico (Hidalgo, Queretaro, East Guanajuato, South-East Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas)

• Echinocereus pentalophus f. cristatus hort.

• Echinocereus pentalophus (DC.) H.P.Kelsey & Dayton
• Cereus pentalophus DC.
• Cereus pentalophus var. radicans DC.
• Cereus pentalophus var. simplex DC.
• Cereus pentalophus var. subarticulatus DC.
• Echinocereus leptacanthus (DC. ex Salm-Dyck) K.Schum.
• Cereus leptacanthus. DC. ex Salm-Dyck
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. leptacanthus Lem. ex Rümpler
• Echinocereus pentalophus f. cristatus hort.
• Echinocereus pentalophus f. monstruosus hort.

• Echinocereus pentalophus subs. leonensis (Mathsson) N.P.Taylor
• Cereus leonensis (Mathsson) Orcutt
• Echinocereus leonensis Mathsson
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. leonensis (Mathsson) N.P.Taylor

• Echinocereus pentalophus subs. procumbens (Engelm.) W.Blum & Mich.Lange
• Cereus procumbens Engl.
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. procumbens (Engelm.) P.Fourn. in P.Fourn.
• Echinocereus procumbens (Engelm.) Lem.
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. procumbens f. albiflorus hort.
• Echinocereus procumbens var. longispinus Hirscht

Description: The typical Echinocereus pentalophusSN|17709]]SN|1587]] is a well known and widely grown clumping cactus that form large cushion. The crested form is not so easy to found as the normal plant.
Crested form: The crested form Echinocereus pentalophus f. cristatusSN|1587]]SN|17709]] is sought after by collectors, for its unique features and can grow up to 20 cm in diameter and height (or more). Seems to be a pretty variable plant with several clones.
Stems: Light green to reddish-purple to dark or yellowish-green. The crested stems are relatively weak, up 2,5 cm in width.
Central spines: 0 or 1 central spine;
Radial spines: 4 or 7, short, brown, yellowish, tan or ashy white, needle-like or bristly, usually stiff and straight.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
5) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Birkhäuser 2004.

Cultivation and Propagation: The crests are frequently grafted onto a Myrtillocactus geometrizansSN|8050]]SN|8050]] trunk, but are easily grown on their own roots. Indicated for full sun exposure. Water regularly from March to October. Rot prone in winter, it needs good drainage, It should be kept in a cool place during winter rest (it can briefly tolerate temp. as low as -7°C). Stems may possibly become purple and limp in winter, but revitalize in early spring. Any normal shoots should be removed to promote the growth of the crest.
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. Any normal shoots should be removed to promote the growth of the crest.
Propagation: Grafting, It can also be increased by cuttings, which will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C. Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer, Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.