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E.
visnaga
This is the largest of all barrel cacti,
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Echinocactus visnaga is one of the
most massive of cacti, up to 1 meter across and 2 - 3 meters high. They
can began enormous and a single plant of this species will sometimes
weigh a ton. It can dominate a landscape because of its large size and
impressive bulk. The plants (which have had several other names assigned
to them, including Echinocactus ingens and Echinocactus
grandis) often have a somewhat sway-backed, saddle-shaped apex,
densely covered in white wool, where their yellow flowers emerge.
They also tend to lean to the south or southwest so that the spines can
better protect the body of the plant from the harsh desert sun. In fact,
desert travellers can use the plant as a compass.
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Description: it is a slowly growing massive
barrel cactus, usually solitary, that grows huge in habitat ( up to 2,7 m
tall, 1,5 m wide). It could live more than a hundred years. The
stem is grey-blue ± tuberculate and nice when small, whilst large
plants are heavily
ribbed with numerous
areoles, forming a continuous line. Spines are
black.
Flowers: from end of spring to summer, only on larger mature
specimens receiving enough
full sun. They are
diurnal, vivid yellow.
Note: The juvenile Echinocactus look very
different from the mature specimens. In fact like the other Echinocactus
and Ferocactus seedlings, the rib structure is not yet apparent, and
they have pronounced tubercles.
Culture:
Frost tender but
resistant to -4°C for short periods. Cold hardiness increases with improved
drainage, so keep plants as dry as possible in
winter. They grow best in well-drained soil and a position in
full sun, which will help maintain the lustre of the spines and
longevity of the flowers. Provide the plant with extremely
well-drained soils, as the plants are subject to
crown and
soft rot if they remain too moist.
Besides, they perform
wonderfully in containers;
Container media should be coarse as well. Young plants are
prone to
mealy bug and
red spider mite. Propagate from seed. |
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) Echinocactus visnaga Hook.
Scientific Name:
Echinocactus platyacanthus Link et Otto 1827
The "Visnaga" or "Monster Cactus", is today referred to
E. platyacanthus
Distribution: ranges over much of northeast and central
Mexico.
Vernacular Names: Biznaga Gigante, Biznaga de Dulce; Giant
Viznaga, monster cactus & Large Barrel
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Synonyms:
- Echinocactus platyacanthus
- Echinocactus ingens
- Echinocactus karwinskii
- Echinocactus helophorus
- Echinocactus palmeri
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Traditional uses:
- This plant is used to prepare a traditional candy, the pith is
boiled with sugar to produce a popular sweet called “dulce de biznaga”
or "acitrón". In this case the over collection of wild plants for making
cactus candy is the major threat to the survival of this species.
- This plants were also used by indigenous peoples of Mexico in many
ways, for example the woolly hairs this plant produces have been
used as filling fibres and for weaving.
- The spines are used by the Mexicans as toothpicks. It has been
estimated that a single plant may bear upwards of 50,000 spines.
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
Echinocactus platyacanthus.
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Cultivation
and Mail Sale 
