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F. acanthodes grows slowly,
forming in age a mound of thorns and
then a narrow column up to 2m tall, with attractive curved spines
that partly obscure the green stem. The spine colour is red but also
yellow or pale grey.
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Description:
The plant is usually unbranched, forming a single column up to 2 (3) m tall
and 30cm in diameter. The ribs are 2.5cm high and tuberculate.
Spines:
A large central spine and three auxiliary centrals form a crucifix
shape, The primary central is 7-15 , angles down and is slightly to
moderately hooked, sometimes to 90 degrees. The other centrals are from
5 to 7.5 cm long. The centrals are noticeably
ring ridged and
flattened, with a flat upper surface and rounded lower surface. Spines
can be very light grey to red and yellow, but darken to black with age.
Flowers: Yellow flowers tinged with red appear in May and June at
the crown of the plant, 4 to 6cm. The fruit with scales is fleshy,
yellow or yellowish green 5cm long, 2.5cm in diameter.
The flowers on all subspecies are yellow, occasionally with a red tint.
Cultivation:
Be careful not to overwater. It can rot easily. Will take some frost.
Reproduction:
Seeds are the only way of reproducing.
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
Ferocactus cylindraceus:
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) Ferocactus acanthodes
Scientific name:
Ferocactus cylindraceus subsp. cylindraceus
Synonyms:
- Echinocactus cylindraceus
- Echinocactus viridescens var. cylindraceus
- Echinocactus acanthodes
- Ferocactus acanthodes
This species is highly variable
and has numerous synonyms.
Common name: 'Desert
barrel cactus', 'Compass barrel cactus' (It
leans south as it ages hence the common name). Another name is 'fire
barrel' due to it's red spines.
Origin:
The various variety of F. acanthodes ( =
cylindraceus) are
spread across central and western Arizona, southeastern California and
southwards into Baja California and Sonora, Mexico
Habitat: This cactus is locally abundant in arid gravelly or rocky
foothills, canyon walls, fans and wash margins at 600 to 1250m elevation
among creosote bush scrub, it also utilizes slopes and Acid Igneous rock
lands. The species is limited in its northwards range by frost
conditions. To reduce the damage by frost the plant is found on south
facing slopes and it leans to the south to protect the sensitive growing
tip by placing it for best exposure to the sun .
The dense shading of the growing tip by spines, fruit, flowers remnants
and pubescence allow this species a further northward range and higher
elevations than F. wislizenii or F. Covillei
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Cultivation
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