Publication: Bradleya 2: 34. 1984
Description
Ferocactus wislizeni subs. herrerae is a barrel shaped cactus with remarkably long hooked spines.
Habit: Usually solitary.
Stem: Up to 40 cm in diameter, 2 m tall.
Ribs: About 13 sharp, occasionally spiraled.
Spines: The number of spines varies depending on the plant maturity; 7 to 9 central spines, at least one flattened, larger; bristle-like radials.
Flowers: Its flowers colour is always yellow with reddish midribs and brown tips.
Blooming time: Summer and early autumn.
Fruit: The fruit is fleshy, yellowish green.
Origin and Habitat
Mexico (Sinaloa, Sonora), in coastal plains, at less than 400 m elevation.
Habitat: It grows in grit on the hill-sides. It gets lots of water in two months and lots of sun all year.
Cultivation and Propagation
Use very draining soil, water during the aestival growth cycle (this plant need plenty of water) 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. Needs full sun. Keep dry at 10°C in winter, but can tolerate sporadic light frost.
Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing.
Uses: The fruits of this plant are edible, and in the past, the seeds have been used to make flour.
Notes
Ferocactus herrerae (J. G. Ortega) along whit the allopatric species Ferocactus tiburonensis (G. E. Lindsay) are often cited as varieties of Ferocactus wislizeni by some botanists but all reports of intermediates with F. herrerae are based on normal F. herrerae there is in fact a 100 kilometre gap in Sonora where neither barrel occurs, this give rise to some doubt that it belongs to the same species as F. wislizeni.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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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 Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
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Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
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