Ferocactus cylindraceus

Last updated

Ferocactus cylindraceus
Ferocactus-cylindraceus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Ferocactus
Species:
F. cylindraceus
Binomial name
Ferocactus cylindraceus
(Engelm.) Orcutt
Synonyms

Echinocactus viridescens var. cylindraceus Engelm.
Echinocactus cylindraceus(Engelm.) Engelm.
Echinocactus acanthodes Lem. (rejected name)

Contents

Ferocactus cylindraceus is a species of barrel cactus which is known by several common names, including California barrel cactus, Desert barrel cactus, compass barrel cactus, and miner's compass. It was first described by George Engelmann in 1853. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This cactus is native to the eastern Mojave Desert and western Sonoran Desert Ecoregions in: Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah in the Southwestern United States; and Baja California, and Sonora state in Northwestern Mexico. [3] [4]

It is found in gravelly, rocky, or sandy soils, in Creosote Bush Scrub and Joshua Tree Woodland habitats, from 60–1,500 metres (200–4,920 ft) in elevation. [5]

Description

Ferocactus cylindraceus is usually cylindrical or spherical, usually found in clusters with some older specimens forming columns grow up to 50 centimeters in diameter and 3 metres (9.8 ft) in height. The stem has 18 to 27 distinct ribs and is covered in long, plentiful spines, which are straight and red when new and become curved and gray as they age. Each areola typically contains four to seven central spines that are 5 to 15 centimeters long, as well as 15 to 25 radial spines resembling strong hairs. [6]

The cactus bears funnel-shaped flowers that are maroon outside, and bright yellow inside, with red tints and yellow centers on the side that faces the sun, measuring 3 to 6 centimeters in length and 4 to 6 centimeters in diameter. The fleshy, hollow fruits are spherical, yellow, and about 3 centimeters long.

Subspecies

Accepted Subspecies: [7]

ImageSubspeciesDistribution
Blooming Barrel Cactus.jpg Ferocactus cylindraceus cylindraceus— California barrel cactus. [8] Southern California to Southwest Utah and Mexico
Ferocactus cylindraceus lecontei(Engelm.) N.P.Taylor — Leconte's barrel cactus. [9] [10] Central Arizona
Ferocactus cylindraceus 12.jpg Ferocactus cylindraceus tortulispinus(H.E.Gates) N.P.TaylorSoutheast California to South Nevada and Mexico (Northwest Sonora)

Taxonomy

In 1852, George Engelmann first described Ferocactus cylindraceus as Echinocactus viridescens var. cylindraceus. The name "cylindraceus" is derived from Latin, meaning "cylindrical," which describes the shape of the plant's shoots. In 1926, Charles Russell Orcutt moved this variety to the Ferocactus genus. [11]

Conservation

Having a sculptural form and picturesque qualities, this already uncommon cactus is threatened by plant collectors. [5] It is also losing habitat to clearing for new wind farms and solar power plants in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert.

Protected areas with notable populations include

Related Research Articles

<i>Fouquieria splendens</i> Species of flowering plant

Fouquieria splendens is a plant indigenous to the Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert and Colorado Desert in the Southwestern United States, and northern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrel cactus</span> Type of cactus

Barrel cacti are various members of the two genera Echinocactus and Ferocactus, endemic to the deserts of Southwestern North America southward to north central Mexico. Some of the largest specimens are found in the Sonoran Desert.

<i>Echinocactus</i> Genus of cacti

Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek ἐχῖνος (echînos), meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Providence Mountains</span> Peaks in Mojave Desert, California

The Providence Mountains are found in the eastern Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, U.S. The range reaches an elevation of 7,162 feet (2,183 m) at Edgar Peak and is home to the Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, and the Mojave National Preserve.

<i>Echinocereus engelmannii</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus engelmannii, the strawberry hedgehog cactus or Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, is a cactus commonly found in desert areas of the southwestern United States and the adjacent areas of Mexico, including the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Baja California and Sonora.

<i>Pelecyphora vivipara</i> Species of cactus

Pelecyphora vivipara is a species of cactus known by several common names, including spinystar, viviparous foxtail cactus, pincushion cactus and ball cactus. It is native to North America, where certain varieties can be found from Mexico to Canada. Most of these varieties are limited to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. The species epithet "vivipara" is due to the species' viviparous reproductive habit.

<i>Ferocactus viridescens</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus viridescens is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae. This rare barrel cactus is known by several common names, including coast barrel cactus, keg cactus and San Diego barrel cactus. Most of its native range in the United States is in San Diego County, California, where it is threatened by development, agriculture, and other alterations in its habitat. It is also found in northern Baja California, Mexico.

<i>Opuntia basilaris</i> Species of cactus

Opuntia basilaris, the beavertail cactus or beavertail pricklypear, is a cactus species found in the southwest United States. It occurs mostly in the Mojave, Anza-Borrego, and Colorado Deserts, as well as in the Colorado Plateau and northwest Mexico. It is also found throughout the Grand Canyon and Colorado River region as well as into southern Utah and Nevada, and in the western Arizona regions along the Lower Colorado River Valley.

<i>Echinocactus polycephalus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocactus polycephalus is a cactus that occurs in the Mojave Desert region of Arizona, California, and Nevada. It also occurs in the Sonoran Desert region of southern California and northern Sonora, Mexico.

<i>Cochemiea tetrancistra</i> Species of cactus

Cochemiea tetrancistra is a species of fishhook cactus known by the common name common fishhook cactus. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of desert habitat types.

<i>Cylindropuntia echinocarpa</i> Species of cactus

Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is a species of cactus known by the common names silver cholla, golden cholla, and Wiggins' cholla. It was formerly named Opuntia echinocarpa.

<i>Psorothamnus arborescens</i> Species of legume

Psorothamnus arborescens is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Mojave indigo bush.

<i>Sclerocactus polyancistrus</i> Species of cactus

Sclerocactus polyancistrus is a species of cactus known by several common names, including redspined fishhook cactus, Mojave fishhook cactus, pineapple cactus, and hermit cactus.

<i>Xylorhiza tortifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Xylorhiza tortifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common names Mojave-aster and Mojave woodyaster.

Prunus eremophila, also known by its common name Mojave Desert plum, is a rare species of plum native to California.

<i>Lophocereus schottii</i> Species of cactus

Lophocereus schottii, the senita cactus, is a species of cactus from southern Arizona and north-western Mexico, particularly Baja California and Sonora.

<i>Ferocactus emoryi</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus emoryi, known commonly as Emory's barrel cactus, Coville's barrel cactus and traveler's friend, is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus.

<i>Ferocactus chrysacanthus</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus chrysacanthus, commonly known as the Cedros barrel cactus, is an endangered species of cactus endemic to the islands of Cedros and West San Benito off the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico.

<i>Pelecyphora alversonii</i> Species of cactus

Pelecyphora alversonii commonly known as cushion foxtail cactus or cushion fox-tail cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to the southwestern United States.

References

  1. Burquez Montijo, A.; Felger, R.S. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Ferocactus cylindraceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T152556A121539513. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152556A121539513.en . Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. Anderson, Edward F. (2001). The cactus family. Timber Press. p. 327. ISBN   0-88192-498-9 . Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  3. CalFlora Database: Ferocactus cylindraceus . accessed 4.1.2013
  4. CalFlora Database: Distribution Map (in California)
  5. 1 2 Jepson . accessed 4.1.2013
  6. Flora of North America . accessed 4.1.2013
  7. "Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  8. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt var. cylindraceus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  9. "UC/JEPS: Jepson Manual treatment for FEROCACTUS cylindraceus var. lecontei". ucjeps.berkeley.edu.
  10. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt var. lecontei (Engelm.) H. Bravo". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  11. Silliman, Benjamin (1852). "The American journal of science and arts". S. Converse. ISSN   0099-5363 . Retrieved 2024-01-15.