Echinocereus acanthosetus

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Echinocereus acanthosetus is a small cactus native to Mexico and is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

Description
- Growth: grows solitary to almost spherical, green stems.
- Size: stem height 3.9–6.2 mm; diameter 12.1–25.5 mm.
- Ribs and spines: 8–10 low ribs; 5–9 radial spines, 2–7 mm long, on elliptical areoles.
- Flowers: short funnel-shaped, magenta to cream-white; about 31.6–48 mm long and 41.8–46.6 mm in diameter.
- Fruit: purple, spherical, about 7–9 mm long and 5–7 mm wide with black seeds.
- Distinguishing features: smaller stems, elliptical areoles, and more/longer spines than Echinocereus pulchellus.

Habitat and range
- Location: Oaxaca, Mexico, between Magdalena Jicotlán and Tepelmeme de Morelos in Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán.
- Habitat: grasslands and xerophytic (dry) vegetation.

Taxonomy and naming history
- First described in 1997 as a variety of Echinocereus pulchellus.
- Later treated as a subspecies.
- Recognized as a separate species in 2020 based on multivariate analysis.