Xerophyte

Habit

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

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

Variegated Ferocactus can be found (although not common) in cultivation and some of these variegated plants have a place in most collections. All variegates are mutants. Something has gone wrong with the cellular structure of the growth tip (apical meristem) of the plant. As a result of this mutation, chlorophyll is missing from some or all layers of the plant epidermis. The odd variegate appears in many seedling batches in a small percentage and are generally separated from normal plants. Variegated plants grow slower and are generally smaller than non-variegates of the same species. Coloured areas are also generally weaker, and more susceptible to fungus, sunburn and other defects. A large well grown variegate Ferocactus is truly an achievement. These are harder to grow well than they appear.

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.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Spines

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

Ribs

to 20-40 or more.

Stem

Bluish green with sectors, patches or stripes with distinct shades of yellow or orange, globular to short-cylindric up to 110 cm tall and 50-60(-80) cm in diameter, 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.