This Plant Sets Colorado Apart from Every Other State

Colorado is well-known as a state that is absolutely full of natural beauty. From the Rocky Mountains and other rock formations to the vast amounts of wildlife to the plethora of gorgeous plants and flowers, there isn't a place quite like it in the world.

Read More: What are Colorado’s Official State Animals? |

However, one particular species of vegetation that can be found in Colorado actually sets the Centennial State apart from any of the other states in the nation.

Colorado is the Only State with an Official Cactus

While things like state birds, flowers, and trees are commonplace across the country, Colorado is the only state in the nation to have an official state cactus.

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The cactus is scientifically known as Echinocereus triglochidiatus but also bears a number of common names including the claret cup cactus, the king cup cactus, the red-flowered hedgehog cactus, and the Mojave mound cactus.

While found abundantly in Colorado, the claret cup cactus is also native to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Texas, and parts of Northern Mexico.

The scientific species name or binomial name, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, is a combination of the genus, Echinocereus and a word contrived from the prefix tri, meaning three, and a Latin variation of the word "glochid" which is a term for a specific type of spine found in cacti.

The cactus is typically found in low desert areas but not exclusively as they are also common in mountainous areas throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.