Xerophyte

Central Spines

4, quite straight and hooked up to 4.5 cm long, the lower three (middle) are the longest, flattened, sometimes curved at the apex..

Seeds

dark-brown or black, 2-2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide; Testa with a fine polygonal network;Hilum small, approximately 0,5 mm in diameter.

Description

It is a massively spined barrel cactus, usually solitary. It is a close relative of Ferocactus peninsulaeSN|11977]]SN|11977]].

Note

Areolar glands are found between the flower’s bud and the spine cluster in the flowering areoles.

Flowers

3.5 to 6 cm long and 4 to 7 cm wide, yellow or straw-yellow with a pale-red center line on the petals, pleasant-smelling.

Blooming Season

August-September.

Ribs

About 13, blunted, straight.

Stem

Spherical to shortly columnar, up to 75 cm high, and 25 cm wide.

Radial Spines

About 15, the upper 12 bristle-like, light colored, the lower 3 look like the middle ones, and are often counted along with them, in which case the central spines are 7 and the radial 12

Fruits

Yellow or yellowish green, fleshy, 2 to 5 cm long and 2 to 3,5 cm wide, with lasting Perianth. Fruit wall approx.. 3 mm thick, pulp extraordinarily juicy, at the beginning slimily, glassily, with fruity taste soon drying, fruit then opening by a basal pore.

Areoles

Large, oval, 2 cm long and 12 mm wide, with yellow-brown felt.