Native to southwestern North America and Mexico, the Fire Barrel Cactus is of ‘Least Concern’ status according to IUCN. It has unusually bright scarlet/red spines.
Ferocactus gracilis (Fire Barrel Cactus) [synonym Ferocactus viscainensis for subsp. coloratus]
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 9b-11 (survives to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit))
Height: rarely to 2.4 meters (8 feet) (usually to 1.2 meters (4 feet)) tall
Diameter: central stem to 30 centimeters (12 inches) in diameter
Growth Rate: slow
Age: Long-lived perennial, some of this genus do not begin branching until 20 years old.
Root System: extensive, shallow
Family: Cactaceae
Subspecies: subsp. gracilis, subsp. gatesii, subsp. coloratus
Tolerates: drought
Problems (major): Basal rot, Fungal wilt, Yellow fungus, Fire blight, Bacterial wilt, Cactus beetles
Problems (minor): Wooly scheild louse, Jackrabbits, Packrats, Javelina
Poisonous: likely contains toxic alkaloids, oxalic acid
Soil requirements: requires well-drained, light/sandy soil
Air requirements: not sufficiently researched
Watering requirement: low
Sun requirement: requires full sun
Primary photosynthetic organ: stem
Leaf structure: sharp spines, bright scarlet red, emerge from areole (leaf base on cacti), clusters of 7-13 (most radial, 2-4 longer central spines), to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long
Stem: strictly columnar, singular, to 24 ribs
Flowering structure: golden/bright yellow or vivid, bright orange; center bright yellow
Reproduction by offsets: no, unable to regenerate once shoot apical meristem cut
Monocot or dicot: dicot
Notable characteristics:
The spines are a bright, vivid red (especially when wet). This cacti, unlike others, will die if the top is cut since it cannot branch out.
Uses:
These may be grown for ornamental purposes in select zones. Fire Barrel Cactus may be grown indoors next to a bright window when young.
Sources used:
- http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_echinocactus.html
- http://www.florafinder.com/Species/Ferocactus_gracilis.php
- http://www.desertmuseumdigitallibrary.org/public/detail.php?id=ASDM12670
- https://plants.usda.gov/java/threat?stateSelect=US04&statelist=states
- http://www.bgci.org/plant_details.php?plantID=24784
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Ferocactus_gracilis.html
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/151730/0
- http://www.worldofsucculents.com/ferocactus-gracilis-fire-barrel-cactus/
- http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/11980/Ferocactus_gracilis
- http://www.indoor-plant-care.com/plant-list/ferocactus-gracilis/
A young specimen at the Missouri Botanical Gardens
All of the images provided were taken by me. They may be used for educational/informational purposes only, provided that this article/online journal is appropriately cited first.
A Fascinating Green World 