Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced). The wild species occurs over a considerable range from Guanajuato to Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Hidalgo (Meztitlan, Toliman and Jacala) in Eastern central Mexico.

• Ferocactus glaucescens f. nudus cristatus monstuosus clone A

• Ferocactus glaucescens (DC.) Britton & Rose
• Bisnaga glaucescens DC., Orcutt
• Echinocactus glaucescens DC.
• Echinocactus pfeifferi Zucc. in Pfeiff.
• Ferocactus pfeifferi (Zucc. & sine ref.) Backeb.
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. cristata
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. nudus cristatus monstuosus clone A
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. nudus cristatus monstuosus clone B
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. nudus cristatus
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. nudus
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. inermis hort.
• Ferocactus glaucescens var. unispinus
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. variegatum hort.

• Ferocactus glaucescens cv. Split Rock hort.
• Ferocactus glaucescens f. monstruosus hort.

Description: Ferocactus glaucescensSN|1532]]SN|1532]] f. nudus cristatus monstuosus clone A is a rare crested form of Ferocactus glaucescensSN|1532]]SN|1532]] cv. Split Rock (a.k.a. forma mostruosa nuda) is a strange crested cactus that forms a beautiful irregular fan-shaped stem, that looks like an old weathered rock.
Stem: Glaucous grey stems, but the epidermis of this cultivars starts soon to split open assuming the appearance of a rock surface. The stem slowly grows up to 50 cm in diameter and may form an irregular mound as it ages.
Ribs: Very irregular often fused together, suddenly broken or scratched with thin grooves.
Areoles: Creamy or greyish, long and often fused one to each other.
Spines: Absent (or very short and bristly.
Flowers: Not known.
Remarks: Do not confuse this odd crested cultivar with the common Ferocactus glaucescensSN|1532]]SN|1532]] f. nudus cristatus which is a different cultivar that is superficially similar only when very young. The unique charm of this plant will be revealed as it ages. There is also a slightly different clone named Ferocactus glaucescensSN|1532]]SN|1532]] f. nudus cristatus monstuosus clone B.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is usually seen as a grafted plant but can grow on its own roots too.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough), with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.