| Ferocactus mathssonii | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Ferocactus |
| Species: | F. mathssonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Ferocactus mathssonii (A.Berger ex K.Schum.) N.P.Taylor | |
| Synonyms | |
List
| |
Ferocactus mathssonii is a species of Ferocactus found in Mexico. [1]
Ferocactus mathssonii is a solitary cactus with attractive hooked central spines, occasionally branching from the base. Its flowers are a unique coppery color. The stems are flattened globular to egg-shaped, green to bluish-green with a grey glaucescence, up to 15 cm tall and 8 cm wide, with 9-13 prominent ribs and strongly tubercles, approximately 6-9 mm broad and 9-15 mm tall. Areoles are roundish, around 2-2.5 mm apart, 3-5 mm in diameter, with greyish-yellowish wool, and 1-4 curving, prominently hooked central spines that are 5-9 cm long and 1-1.5 mm wide, along with 3-8 radial spines. The spines are strong, tannish-white to greyish-pink or purple, slightly flattened, and do not obscure the stem. The plant produces several buds in spirals at the apex, with usually 3-5 or more flowers opening at a time. The flowers are cylindrical to funnel shaped, 2-4 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, with inner petals tannish to brick red, and outer tepals with brownish midribs. Filaments are yellow or maroon, up to 6 mm long, with yellow anthers. The style is 1.2 cm long, reddish, with stigma lobes 10-14, yellow or orange. The pericarpel has toothed scales up to 6 mm long. The plant blooms from March to May, with flowers opening in the morning and closing partially at night, reopening for 2-3 days. Fruits are 1.5-2.5 cm long, ovate to globose, fleshy, red, with black seeds that are 1.3-1.5 mm long. [2]
It grows in desert hills and flats, often on limestone-rich substrates, among desert shrubs or in open grassland, usually near grass clumps in Guanajuato to San Luis Potosí, Mexico. [2]
The plant was first published without a description by Karl Moritz Schumann as Echinocereus mathssonii in 1893. [3]
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka. Cacti are adapted to live in very dry environments, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because of this, cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. For example, almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of true leaves, cacti's enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis.
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.
Ferocactus wislizeni, the fishhook barrel cactus, also called Arizona barrel cactus, candy barrel cactus, and Southwestern barrel cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to northern Mexico and the southern United States. It is a ball-shaped cactus eventually growing to a cylindrical shape, with spiny ribs and red or yellow flowers in summer.
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.
Ferocactus echidne is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus. It is found in nature in Mexico. This cactus is known commonly as Sonora barrel, Coville's barrel cactus, Emory's barrel cactus, and traveler's friend. This plant is often sold as a houseplant.
Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus, large-flowered cactus, sweet-scented cactus or vanilla cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation. Most of the plants under this name belong to other species or hybrids. It is often confused with the genus Epiphyllum.
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.
Ferocactus latispinus is a species of barrel cactus native to Mexico.
Sclerocactus sileri, the Siler fishhook cactus, is a rare and very small cactus found mostly in mineral-rich desert areas of intermediate elevations, notably in the American states of Utah, Nevada, and northern Arizona.
Ferocactus hamatacanthus, commonly named Turk's Head, is a barrel cactus in the tribe Cacteae.
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.
Ferocactus diguetii, commonly known as the giant barrel cactus, is the largest species of barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus. It is an insular species endemic to several of Baja California Sur's southern islands in the Gulf of California. As the superlative giant of the barrel cacti, it reaches heights of up to 4 metres (13 ft) and diameters of 1 metre (3.3 ft) in the wild, a result of island gigantism. The species has red flowers that bloom from March to May. Although restricted in range, this species grows in protected habitat and lacks major threats.
Ferocactus flavovirens is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico.
Ferocactus gracilis, the fire barrel cactus, is a species of Ferocactus from Northwestern Mexico. This cactus gets its common name from the striking red coloration of its defensive spines and flowers.
Ferocactus townsendianus, commonly known as the Townsend barrel cactus, is a species of cactus endemic to southern Baja California Sur in Mexico. It is a barrel cactus that grows solitary stems up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall, with gray to brown spines, with one central spine on each areole usually curved or hooked at the tip, and orange to red flowers that bloom from May to August. Ferocactus townsendianus is similar to both Ferocactus peninsulae and Ferocactus santa-maria, and is sometimes placed under peninsulae as a variety or subspecies.
Ferocactus santa-maria is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico.
Ferocactus pottsii is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico. The specific epithet has also been spelt pottsi.
Ferocactus macrodiscus is a species of cactus in the genus Ferocactus from Guanahuato and Oaxaca States, Mexico.
Ferocactus haematacanthus is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico.
Ferocactus tiburonensis is a species of Ferocactus found in Mexico.
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Media related to Ferocactus mathssonii at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Ferocactus mathssonii at Wikispecies