I know we'd really like to believe this but I can't find anything about this on any serious website, and I think if it was real, there would be more news on it.
Upon looking, while I did find many sites picking up the story using the exact same article as every other one, I did come across this one site and article. It's the only one I could find that clearly states this truly is a hoax and I couldn't find any information backing up a hoax confession by David Salmanin so I guess it's still open to personal interpretation:

"On April 1st a story broke that a botanist had discovered an incredible species that appeared to have come from an extraterrestrial source. The new species not only had the characteristics of a more traditional form of cactus, but also a few others that led one botanist to believe it was from outer space. Of course when he said he first discovered the plant in Roswell, New Mexico from a meteorite the paranormal community was already beginning to get skeptical. But all lingering doubts were removed with the prankster came clean shortly afterward and said his cactus story had been a big prank to raise awareness of cacti.

David Salman, of High County Gardens first developed the prank to air footage of a known terrestrial species of alien cactus as a more deliberate and unusual brand of alien invader which he named Ariocarpus extraterrestrialensis. Ariocarpus was chosen as the creatures did resemble a terrestrial form of cactus species going by that name, and extraterrestrialensisafter his belief that the strange plants had actually originated among the stars. But thins have been quickly developed into a far more elaborate prank than Salman likely had hoped for as a good natured bit of fun. And when your life's work includes studying cacti in the desert, you're familiar with your work resulting in a few jabs. Luckily, however, Salman was able to come clean long before the story got too out of control." - http://www.unexplainable.net/UFO-Alien/Alien-Cactus-Story-an-April-Spoof.shtml

Botanists are well known for their ability to recognize space plants.

*lies And since i'm not allowed to invoke anyway - *stupidnews

Invocations (lies) cannot be called by raverman because raverman is not privileged - sorry.

Fuck you news people, fuck you with your not bothering to fact check, you're SUPPOSED TO. IT'S YOUR JOB

if they eat bugs...what did they eat in space? Space bugs? That'd mean that there's space bugs and I don't like space bugs.

E.T. was a botanist.