Ferocactus cylindraceus | |
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Scientific classification | |
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. 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]
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]
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.
Accepted Subspecies: [7]
Image | Subspecies | Distribution |
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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 tortulispinus(H.E.Gates) N.P.Taylor | Southeast California to South Nevada and Mexico (Northwest Sonora) | |
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Psorothamnus arborescens is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Mojave indigo bush.
Sclerocactus polyancistrus is a species of cactus known by several common names, including redspined fishhook cactus, Mojave fishhook cactus, pineapple cactus, and hermit cactus.
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.
Lophocereus schottii, the senita cactus, is a species of cactus from southern Arizona and north-western Mexico, particularly Baja California and Sonora.
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.
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.
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.