Echinocactus grusonii cv. KRAUSKOPF ("curvispinus")
A mutant  form with very beautiful curved  spines
 

Description: This plant differs from the common Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) only for the odd spination. Spines are yellowish-white, sparse, flattish, curved to almost crinkled backward and very irregular, 2 to 6 cm long. Except for the spines it is identical in shape and size to the standard species.  It has a single slowly growing globe-shaped stem that became elongated (barrel-shaped) in maturity, up to 90cm  in height and spread. This stem is pale green and heavily ribbed with numerous areoles sprouting radial, yellow spines. They normally offset with advanced age and a few multiples occur even at small sizes.
The flowers are produced from end of spring to summer only on larger mature specimens receiving enough full sun. Flower are diurnal,  vivid yellow (4-5 cm wide) and form a circular ring at the top of the plant, but are not very visible being small in relation with the size of the barrel, and lost into the creamy coloured wool at the plant apex.

Scientific Name: Echinocactus grusonii forma curvispina

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.
 

Synonyms:

• Echinocactus grusonii cv. Krauskopf

• Echinocacts grusonii var. intertextus

• Echinocactus grusonii var. curvispinus

• Echinocactus grusonii  "tortulispinus"

• Echinocactus grusonii  "tortulispina"

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Echinocactus grusonii:

• E. grusonii
• E. grusonii forma cristata
• E. grusonii "albispina"
• E. grusonii "brevispinus" (inermis cv. TOGENASHI KINSHACHI)
• E. grusonii "brevispinus" forma cristata
• E. grusonii "intermedius"
• E. grusonii cv. krauskopf (curvispinus)
• E. grusonii cv. krauskopf forma cristata
• E. grusonii minor cristata
• E. grusonii forma mostruosa
• E. grusonii forma mostruosa cristata
• E. grusonii setispinus
• E. grusonii setispinus mostruosus cv. Scarascia forma minor mostruosa (cristata)