Xerophyte

Central Spines

4 cruciform, (occasionally more), ashy grey to white or reddish, upper three usually similar, terete, straight, about 3.8-5 cm long, the lower strongest, larger 3.8-5.0 cm long, at least one (the lower) flattened laterally, larger, curved inward and hooked, often hooked at tip, often 8-10 cm long, 5 mm. Wide.

Description

The fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeniSN|16130]]SN|16130]]) is a barrel shaped or columar cactus that stay usually a single column; rare specimens may be multiple, typically it grows to a diameter of roughly 50-80 cm. A height of 1-2 metres. However, specimens as tall as 3 metres have been recorded. Life span has been reported to be from 50 to 130 years. In habitat often this barrel-shaped cactus leans to face southward toward the equator, earning them the nickname "compass barrel cactus". Older barrels can lean so far they uproot themselves and fall over, especially after heavy rains when the soil is loose. Its flowers are yellow to red-orange and appear atop the cactus fruit during the summer months. The common name comes from the spines, which are thick and hooked.

Roots

The root system of barrel cactus is shallow and confined to the upper soil layers. Usually a main anchoring root extended down to about 20 cm and had several short laterals. Horizontal roots originated from the root crown are very shallow. Depth of burial decreased with distance from the plant and ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 cm.

Flowers

Its flowers colour is varies from yellow to (usuallly) firey orange-yellow with reddish midribs and brown tips or nearly red. About 4-7 cm long and broad. Inner perianth segments ovate to lanceolate, about 20 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, red with yellow margins or sometimes pure yellow.Flowers form on growth of the current season in circle around top of plant (around meristem).

Blooming Season

Sporadically in late spring and profusely in summer and early autumn.

Spines

The spines are dense, somewhat obscuring the surface of the stem, the number of spines varies in size, number, and colour depending on the plant maturity. The spines will be thinner when grown in shade. The spines have cross-ridging on their flattened surface

Ribs

20-28(-30) sharp ribs, occasionally spiralled, not strongly tuberculate, about 3 cm tall. The ribs appears like accordion pleats on the body of the plant. With abundant moisture the pleats are less pronounced, but they become deeper as the cactus uses its reserves of water during drought.

Stem

Simple or occasionally sparsely branched from base, globular to cylindrical, 45-80 cm in diameter, up to 2 tall, rare specimens to 3 (or more) m high, epidermis leathery asparagus green.

Radial Spines

12 to 20 variable, from bristle-like to acicular, up to 4.5-5 cm in length.

Fruits

Fleshy at maturity, pineapple-shaped, green when unripe, yellow after the flower dries up, up to 5 cm long, and persist atop the cactus long after the flower is gone, sometimes for more than a year. They are favorite food of wildlife.

Areoles

Large, oval to elliptic, brown-tomentose in youth, spaced 2-3 cm apart in flowering portion, later nearly close to each other.