Xerophyte

Seeds

About 2 mm, black, shining, angled, pitted, with a small white depressed hylum.

Description

Densely spined ,usually solitary, barrel cactus.

Note

This species might be a population of Ferocactus cylindraceous, but it may also be a genetic link between Ferocactus cylindraceusSN|10102]]SN|10102]] and Ferocactus wislizeni.

Flowers

5cm long and 3,5 cm broad, tepals narrow, yellowish, or the outer ones reddish, short-accuminate, the margins slightly erose. Filaments yellowish below and gradually reddening toward the tip. Stigma flesh colored, with 8-13 lobes. Scales on the tube orbicular.

Spines

Very numerous (about 22 to 25), 5-7 cm long, and fine (1,2 mm thick) initially golden-yellow (or sometimes reddish on the newest growth), becoming brownish as they age. Radials and centrals are very much alike, none hooked (or vaguely hooked in juvenile specimens), annulate, slightly spreading and more or less outwardly recurved. They are interlaced and cover the body nearly completely.

Ribs

24-35, up to 2 cm high, margins slightly tuberculate and undulate .

Stem

Spherical to short-cylindrical. With adulthood the plant can reach 60-100 cm in height (but usually less) and about 30-35 cm in diameter.

Fruits

2,5-3 cm long and 1.5 cm broad or 5-6 cm long including the flowers remnants, opening by a large pore at the base.

Areoles

Elliptical, 2 cm long and 7 mm wide rather closely set. With small conical glands.