Origin and Habitat: Sonora, as well as in the state of Chihuahua on the west side of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico (Northern America). It has a very restricted range, but is locally abundant.
Altitude: It is found at elevations of 1,480 to 1,800 metres above sea level.
Typical locality: East of Yecora, El Trigo Ranch, 1800 m.
Habitat and ecology: Echinocereus lauiSN|21829]]SN|21829]] grows in rocky outcrops in moderate to steep volcanic slopes in grasslands and oak woodland together with Mammillaria wrightiiSN|9411]]SN|9411]] v. wilcoxii, and there are no threats affecting it.

• Echinocereus laui G.Frank

Description: Echinocereus lauiSN|21829]]SN|21829]] is a small cactus species clustering profusely from the base and forming after some time clumps with up to 20 stems, but the plant remains small.
Heavy bloomer, it starts producing flowers when still very young.
Stems: Erect, cylindrical almost completely covered by spines, up to 10 cm tall and 4 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 14-16 low divided in small tubercles.
Radials spines: Dense, white, bristle-like, soft and short (approx 5-10 mm long).
Central spines: 4 protruding or spreading, soft ruby-red to reddish-brown, up to 3 cm long.
Flowers: Subapical, large, narrow funnel-shaped, 3-6.2 cm long, 4-7.2 cm in diameter, deep pink to clear violet, with long hairy tube and long-lived.
Blooming season: March to April.
Fruits: Spherical, brownish-green covered with wool and thin brown spines.
Spines: Short, dark.

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) Burquez Montijo, A., Felger, R.S., Van Devender, T. & Reina, A.L. 2013. Echinocereus laui. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 May 2014.
5) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010
6) Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten. 29:4 74–77 1978

Cultivation and Propagation: In culture Echinocereus lauiSN|21829]]SN|21829]] is without problems, easy to grow, very attractive and regularly shows its beautiful flowers, if provided with an adequate winter rest period. It is sensitive to over-watering (rot prone), and needs good drainage. Keep drier and cool in winter. Needs full sun. In the summer they need an airy location in bright sun; well watered when it's hot. To achieve the best spine density give these plants lots of sun. In the winter light, cool, and absolutely dry conditions. Cold resistant above -5° C or less for short periods of time. In mild climate they grow well when planted freely outside in well-drained soil.
Propagation: Seeds (usually), it also can be grown from cuttings, as it branch from the base.