Xerophyte

Habit

It is a perennial stem succulent, which normally remains a solitary plant, without dividing or producing offsets.

Central Spines

4 (or more) large, transversely striated, more highly coloured than radials of which the lowest one is conspicuously wider, thick and flat (4-9 mm broad), up to 4(-7,5) cm long apically bent downward or hooked and lie flat against the body (near straight in Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]] var. greenwoody). This prominent spine is usually red or grey-red, but may be amber-coloured or yellow (Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]]var. flavispinus). The other central spines are still stout, but much narrower and not curved.

Seeds

Dark-brown, reniform, slightly pitted, 1,2-1,5 mm long.

Description

Ferocactus latispinusSN|4280]]SN|4259]] is a modest-sized barrel cactus and probably the best-known of the ferocacti, and if you want only one from this group, this is the one to choose. Three subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. greenwoodii (Glass) N.P.Taylor and subsp. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) N.P.Taylor.

Flowers

Campanulate, beautiful “glassy” rich-rose, purple, mauve, purple-blue or, sometime, straw-yellow, and fragrant up to 2,5-3,5(-6) cm long and about 3 cm broad. Perianth segments narrowly oblong, acute. Scales on the ovary closely imbricated, thin and papery, ovate with thin ciliate margins. Scales on flower tube similar similar to those on the ovary but longer.

Blooming Season

Late autumn to early winter, usually in October, but it usually flowers only if the weather is warm and sunny ( need a fair amount of bright sunlight to form) Unlike most of the others, which usually need to reach relatively large size this species blooms very early, many young plants will bloom when they reach only 10 cm in diameter. It might be noted that this is not true of the closely related Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]] ssp. spiralis (syn. Ferocactus recurvusSN|4259]]SN|4280]]);

Ribs

13 to 23 ribs (but usually 21), sharp and prominent.

Stem

Light green to blue-green, hemispherical or flat-topped, 25 to 45 cm in diameter, 10-35(-40) cm tall, most often wider than tall.

Radial Spines

(6-)9-12(-15) up to 2,5 cm long, spreading out, smaller, annulate, finely needle-like, straight that have almost no width at all, translucent white, yellow, pink or reddish.

Fruits

Sperical to elongate about 2,5-8 cm long. 1,8-2,5 cm broad, clothed in tapering scales.

Areoles

Large on bumps along the ribs with grey to blackish felt.