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Cactaceae Syst. Init. 14: 16. 2002 [Oct 2002]
Family: CACTACEAE
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Growing habit (Arizona)
Origin and Habitat: It is known from only two widely-separated small desert localities in Pinal County, central Arizona and in the Havasupai Canyon (Grand canyon area north eastern margin of the Sonoran desert), Arizona, USA
Altitude: 360-1200 metres Above Sea Level
Habitat: Variety eastwoodiae is found most often on steep slopes and inaccessible ledges on a dolerite intrusion. (Dolerite is a basic igneous rock). The plants are sensitive to salinity
Synonyms:
- Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
- Ferocactus acanthodes var. eastwoodiae L.D.Benson in L.D.Benson
- Ferocactus cylindraceus var. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
- Ferocactus eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) L.D.Benson
Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Syst. Init. 14: 16. 2002 [Oct 2002]
Synonymy: 4
- Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
- Ferocactus acanthodes var. eastwoodiae L.D.Benson in L.D.Benson
- Ferocactus cylindraceus var. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
- Ferocactus eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) L.D.Benson
Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt
Cactography 1926(1): 5.
Synonymy: 16
- Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt
- Echinocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Engelm.
- Echinocactus viridescens var. cylindraceus Engelm.
- Ferocactus acanthodes (Lem.) Britton & Rose
- Ferocactus acanthodes f. albispinus hort.
- Ferocactus acanthodes var. rostii (Britton & Rose) W.T.Marshall
- Echinocactus acanthodes var. rostii (Britton & Rose) Munz
- Echinocactus rostii (Britton & Rose) A.Berger
- Ferocactus rostii Britton & Rose
- Ferocactus acanthodes f. variegatus hort.
- Ferocactus cylindraceus var. hertrichii (Weinberg) hort.
- Echinocactus hertrichii Weinberg & Werderm. in Backeb.
- Ferocactus acanthodes var. hertrichii (Weinberg) hort.
- Ferocactus hertrichii (Weinberg) Kreuz.
- Thelocactus hertrichii (Weinberg) Borg
Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. lecontei (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 6: 16. 1998
Synonymy: 7
- Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. lecontei (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocactus lecontei Engelm.
- Echinocactus wislizeni var. lecontei (Engelm.) Engelm.
- Echinocactus wislizeni f. lecontei (Engelm.) Schelle
- Ferocactus acanthodes var. lecontei (Engelm.) G.E.Linds.
- Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei (Engelm.) Bravo
- Ferocactus lecontei (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
Ferocactus cylindraceus var. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) Bravo
Cact. Suc. Mex. 25: 65. 1980
Synonymy: 5
- Ferocactus cylindraceus var. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) Bravo
- Ferocactus acanthodes subs. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) F.Wolf & R.Wolf
- Ferocactus acanthodes var. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) G.E.Linds.
- Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) N.P.Taylor
- Ferocactus tortulispinus H.E.Gates
ENGLISH: Golden Barrel Cactus, Cliff Barrel
Description: Ferocactus cylindraceusSN|10102]]SN|10102]] subs. eastwoodiae is a particularly attractive cactus with remarkably spines, that differs from the standard Ferocactus cylindraceusSN|10102]]SN|10102]] in having only 12-14 and stout radial spines and usually 4 central spines, the lowest the longest, curved but not hooked. Spines are yellowish to straw coloured, dense and partly obscuring the stems.
Habit: Ferocactus cylindraceusSN|10102]]SN|10102]] subs. eastwoodiae is a solitary, barrel cactus usually unbranched, forming a single moderately tall column.
Stem: Green, spherical becoming columnar, growing slowly 1,6 to 3 m tall and 30 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 18 to 25 obtuse up to 2,5 cm high and tuberculate.
Central spines: Usually 4, the lowest the longest, curved but not hooked, 6-8 cm long and three auxiliary centrals form a crucifix shape. Spines can be yellowish to straw coloured, but darken with age.
Radial spines: 12 to 14 white spreading 2.5-5 cm long.
Flowers: Yellow tinged with red appear in May and June at the crown of the plant, 4 to 6 cm.
Fruit: Fleshy, covered with scales, yellow or yellowish green, 5 cm long, 2,5 cm in diameter.
Remarks: The flowers on all subspecies are yellow, occasionally with a red tint.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ferocactus cylindraceus group
Ferocactus acanthodes (Lem.) Britton & Rose: Plants with a central spine 7-15 cm in length, they usually inhabits the 50-700 m elevational range. (Rejected name same as Feroctus cylindraceus)
Ferocactus acanthodes f. albispinus hort.: White spined type. Selected cultivated form.
Ferocactus acanthodes var. rostii (Britton & Rose) W.T.Marshall: has columnar stems up to 3 m high and 30 cm in diameter. It is similar to F. acanthodes, but the stem is thinner and the spines are more curved and blanch to golden in maturity. Distribution: Texas and California.
Ferocactus acanthodes f. variegatus hort.: varigated form.
Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt: Colourfull barrel cactus forming in age a mound of thorns and then a narrow column up to 2m tall, with attractive curved spines that partly obscure the green stem. The spine colour is red but also yellow or pale grey. Distribution: southern California, southwestern Arizona, northern Baja California, and northwestern Sonora.
Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor: Plants solitary, short to tall cylindrical up to 3 m high and 30 cmin diameter. Spines dense, partly obscuring the stems, yellowish to straw colored. Distribution: restricted to central Arizona and the Grand Canyon.
Ferocactus cylindraceus var. hertrichii (Weinberg) hort.: Usually unbranched forming a single column up to 2 m tall and 30cm in diameter. It has a large central spine and three auxiliary centrals form a crucifix shape.
Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. lecontei (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor: Plant with untwisted non-hooked central spines 5-7 cm in length often closely pressed to the stem; Distribution: southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, southern California, and much of Arizona. Grows at 700-1500 m in elevation.
Ferocactus cylindraceus var. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) Bravo: It has much shorter stems, often with flattened tips. the spines are very twisted gray. Distribution: northern Baja California.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) 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
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006 ISBN 0953813444, 9780953813445.
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Courier Dover Publications, 1963
5) Raymond M. Turner, Janice Emily Bowers, Tony L. Burgess “Sonoran Desert Plants: An Ecological Atlas” University of Arizona Press, 2005.
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Ferocactus eastwoodiae, in habitat, Arizona. Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
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Ferocactus eastwoodiae, in habitat, Arizona. Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
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Ferocactus eastwoodiae, a juvenile specimen, Arizona. Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
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A juvenile specimen (pot diameter 5 cm). Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
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Ferocactus eastwoodiae, spination, Arizona. Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
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Cultivation and Propagation: Ferocactus cylindraceusSN|10102]]SN|10102]] subs. eastwoodiae are summer-growing and pretty easy plants.
Growing rate: Thought slow to start the speed when they reach about five cm in diameter. Plant in good conditions will start to bloom when reach the diameter of only 15-18 cm.
Soil: They are suited for any rich, well drained soil such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould.
Repotting: If potted, repot them preferably in the spring, if their roots become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. Fill about a quarter of the pot with broken crocks, gravel, etc. to promote good drainage. After repotting, do not water for a week or more.
Watering: Water regularly during the aestival growth cycle (this plant need plenty of water, but do not overwater and let their soil dry out between waterings), and also needs to be avoided wetting the body of this plant while it is in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause sun burning which can lead to scars or even fungal infections and death, keep rather dry in winter. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Exposure: Outside they need a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer if the location is exceedingly hot or bright, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun. It can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun.
Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required for safe cultivation, but can tolerate sporadic light frost. This plants need a period of cool rest in winter to produce flowers abundantly.
Diseases and pests: Watch for infestations of mealybug, scale insects and spider mite.
Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing. Seed Collecting: Permit fruit to ripen. Fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds.
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