Xerophyte

Seeds

Glossy brown, irregular, 1,5 mm wide.

Description

Ferocactus diguetiiSN|16050]]SN|16050]] is a spectacular cactus that grows up to 4 m tall. It is among the largest species of column-like cacti, usually unbranched, forming a solitary column. The plants from from Santa catalina are probably the largest and most spectacular Ferocactus.Derivation of specific name. This member of the Cactaceae family was given this name for Léon Diguet (1859–1926), French chemist and explorer in Mexico.

Note

The variety carmenesis (Ferocactus diguetiiSN|16050]]SN|16050]] subs. carmenensis) only reaches 1 m in height.

Flowers

Fiery reddish to orange, funnelform are about 4 cm long and wide. Floral tube with fimbriate scales on ovary, inner perianth segment, oblanceolated, up to 2 cm long, 8 mm wide, dark red with yellowing margins, external perianth segments brownish-yellow. Stamens basally yellow fading red toward te tips, style orangish/red up to 18 mm long with longitudinal ridges continuing in stigma lobes, this are yellow upp to 5-10 mm long.

Blooming Season

Flowers from March to May.

Spines

4 to 8 spines of which one central (often up to 10 in juvenile specimens), clear yellow or sometime reddish or brownish, almost all alike, subulated, not ringed or hooked, slightly curved outward, up to 7 cm long.

Ribs

Slightly tuberculate, vertical, straight or wavy in moribund specimens, up to 3 cm tall. Mature plants have 25 to 35 ribs.

Stem

Massive, darck green, globular flattened in juvenile specimens, then columnar. The usual height of this species is to 2 meters, but some specimens can reach the 4 m of eight. and 60-100 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Up to 3 cm long and 3 cm wide They tend to dry at maturity and split open through a basal pore.

Areoles

Elongated, 1 x 2 cm wide, with short tan wool which turn chalky-white/grey and finally erodes away in age.