Xerophyte

Central Spines

1-4 uppermost 2-1 to 3,5 cm, lowermost, much stouter and longer, 4-6(-9) cm long, porrect or ascending, annulate, sometimes flattened or angular in cross section, and often slightly down-curved, except in young plants.

Seeds

Minute, 1 mm long, dark brown, testa finely pitted.

Description

Ferocactus histrixSN|4300]]SN|4300]] is a colourful barrel cactus usually unbranched, forming a single moderately tall column.

Flowers

Bell shaped, 2-3,5 cm long, 2,5 cm in diameter, bright yellow, sometimes reddish; inner perianth-segments linear-oblong, acute, somewhat spreading; stigma-lobes 6, linear, green; scales on the ovary ovate, acute, small, 2 to 4 mm long, somewhat ciliate. It is an obligate outcrossing cactus. Pollen is released 1 to 2 days after anthesis. At this stage the stigma lobes are closed, and the pollinators usually land directly on the stamens to reach the nectary. In this way, pollen can be easily collected. After 2 to 3 days of opening, the stigma lobes expand and are used by pollinators as a landing platform. and pollen from others flowers can be deposited (del Castillo 1994). Therefore, self pollination within the same flower is avoided but the transfer of pollen from one flower to another in the same plant is not, as flowering is sequential.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Spines

10 to 12 stout, amber yellow, becoming brown, red to brown at base.

Ribs

to 20-40 or more.

Stem

Globular to short-cylindric up to 110 cm tall and 50-60(-80) cm in diameter, bluish green with large, depressed, woolly stem tips.

Radial Spines

Slender-subulate 6-9 2 to 3 cm. long, more or less spreading.

Fruits

Short-oblong, 2-3 cm. pinkish, fleshy and somewhat edible. Often bursting apically to release seeds in liquid.

Areoles

2 to 3 cm apart, almost confluent in old plants.