Publication: [as Hamatocactus hamatacanthus var. papyracanthus 1935]
Description
Ferocactus hamatacanthus var. papyracanthus is one of the many geografical form of the widespread and morphologically variable Ferocactus hamatacanthus. Many of its morphological and geographical variant was early classified as different independent species, but nowadays all this plant are considered part of a multiform species, where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. Ferocactus hamatacanthus var. papyracanthus has very long more or less papery central spines, flattened and often hooked to forms ringlets.
Habit: Solitary, or sparsely clumping.
Stems: Spheric to ovoid, dark green 10-30 long and 7,5-20 cm across.
Ribs: Typically 13 ( to 17), undulate to deeply crenate, tuberculate.
Areoles: 1-3 cm apart , young ones with yellow felt.
Spines: 12-16 per areole.
Central spines: 4 per areole, apically hooked or almost twist into ringlets, principal central spine flattened, 5-10 cm long 1,3-3 mm across, more or less papery.
Flowers: Pale yellow 6-7,5 long, 7-9 cm broad; stigma lobes 8-10.
Fruits: Green, yellow-green, or olive, 20-25 × 10-15 mm.
Seeds: About 1 mm.
Blooming season: Early summer to autumn in succession. Seedlings start flowering at the age of 4-6 years.
Origin and Habitat
Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Cultivation and Propagation
This species is easy and well worth growing. Require little care once they have reached a nice flowering size. H. papyracanthus is suited for any rich, well drained soil in full sun throughout the year (But do better with some light shade in summer). Pot culture: grow best in a well-drained container filled with a porous cactus soil mixture that doesn’t contain too much humus. To insure robust plants water and fertilize during the aestival growth cycle, this plant need plenty of water (indicatively to about once a week) But needs to be avoided wetting the bodies of these plants while they are in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause sun burning which can lead to scars or even fungal infections and death. Care must be taken to prevent sooty mould forming on the sugary secretions from near the areoles.
Frost Tolerance: In winter keep completely dry at 5°C this usually aids in maintaining a healthier plant, but it is hardy to -7°C.
Propagation: Seeds or cutting. Seeds are the typical way of reproducing. These cacti will easily grow from seeds and some from cuttings. Seeds can be sown in the spring or summer in well-drained pots of soil for cacti and sow the seeds thinly on top. Cover them with a bit of fine quartz grit. Moisten and lay a piece of glass across the top. The pots should be set in a warm greenhouse until they start to sprout after which the glass should be progressively removed so they can receive full light and air. It isn’t good to keep the glass over the seedlings. The seedlings well developed can be planted separately in small pots.
Cuttings made from pieces of the stem of any size can be detached and laid aside for a few days to allow a protective “skin” to form over the cut. They can then be planted in pots. Place them in a spot where they’ll receive sun and do not water until the soil becomes fairly dry. After a while the soil can be moistened regularly but never kept constantly saturated.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010
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N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose: “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume III, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1922
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Brian Loflin, Shirley Loflin “Texas Cacti: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 26/Oct/2009
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Albert Michael Powell, James F. Weedin “Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas” Texas Tech University Press, 2004
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Del Weniger “Cacti of Texas and Neighboring States: A Field Guide” University of Texas Press, 1984
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