Xerophyte

Habit

It is a large ribbed barrel cactus, simple, becoming cylindric in age and attaining a height of 1,5 metres (or more).

Central Spines

4 (or more), forming a cross, reddish with yellow tips, greyish or brown, the lower one flattened up to 7 cm long, somewhat curved, twisted and tangled and hooked, annulate.

Seeds

1,7-2,5 mm long, brown to black, finely pitted to noticeably reticulate.

Description

Ferocactus peninsulaeSN|11980]]SN|11977]] subs. viscainensis is a large barrel cactus which is often considered a separate species. It distinguishes for the dull olive green body, more ribs, (13-21) which are distinctly tuberculate, thin, deep and undulate. It is also known by many to be synonymous with Ferocactus gracilisSN|11977]]SN|11980]].

Flowers

Broadly funnelform, 5-6 cm long red to yellow with orange to red midveins.

Blooming Season

Spring to autumn.

Ribs

13 to 21, prominent, distinctly tuberculate, thin, deep and undulate.

Stem

Unbranched, globose to subcylindric, clavate, erect, up to 1,5 meters high (but usually about 70 cm), up to 30 across, dull olive green.

Radial Spines

8-12 whitish, spreading, variable, straight, slender, terete.

Fruits

Oblong cylindrical, yellowish often tinged reddish, 2,5-7,5 cm long, bearing broad rounded scales.

Areoles

Young areoles brown-felted, elliptic, 15-20 mm long, constricted between the flower and the spine-bearing section, 4 cm apart or even less in old plants.