Echinocereus triglochidiatus "White Sands" SB1598 MG260.9     5/4/15
This species and E. coccineus are so variable in their appearance and have such similar flowers that they are often confused. Some professional taxonomists insist that they are the same plant. This is impossible. E. trig has 22 chromosomes, and E. cocc. has 44. Science says they are not the same. The taxonomists say that science isn’t important. They think that their method of counting spines, measuring the plant, etc. trumps science. After all, the person who started taxonomy, Karl Linne, didn’t need science when he invented his classification scheme in the 18th century. Baloney.   (31/32)   

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