Ferocactus wislizeni subs. ajoensis Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
In Habitat Arizona.
Origin and Habitat: Arizona: Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma counties. (Southwestern U.S.A., Northern America)
Type Locality: Pima County, north side of the town of Ajo.
Habitat and ecology: Unlike the type F. wislizeni subsp. wislizeni that is found mostly on sandy and rocky soils, the typical habitat of F. wislizeni subsp. ajoensis is the grassland in the flat basin floors of the Sonoran Desert dominated by silts and clays. It is associated with numerous cacti and succulent species.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Ferocactus wislizeni
Description: Ferocactus wislizeni subsp. ajoensis is an infraspecific name used to indicate a very long spined form of Ferocactus wislizenii. It is distinguished from the type subspecies of F. wislizeni by columnar, slender body, longer, denser and more robust spines and earlier and longer flowering period during the summer months. This subspecies will almost certainly not be recognized by more strict taxonomists. But it's interesting and definitely look different from the usual wislizenii.
Derivation of specific name: The specific name ajoensis refers to the town of Ajo, the type locality of this species.
Stem: Solitary, columnar, slender, up to 1.5 m tall, and 30-40 cm in diameter, epidermis green.
Ribs: 20-30.
Areoles: More or less woolly.
Spines: Variable, purple, grey to nearly white. Central spines variable, very strong, straight, hooked, 4.4-12 cm long. Radial spines 8-10, unequal, needle-shaped, up to 5 cm long.
Flowers: Funnel-shaped, variable, whorled around the apex, red, orange, 40-50 mm long and broad, petal with darker median stripes.
Blooming season: May to August, depending on local and cultural conditions.
Fruits: Ovate, fleshy, yellow, 36 mm long, 25 mm wide.
Seeds: Dark brown to black, 1.9-2.3 mm long.
More...Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ferocactus wislizeni group
Ferocactus wislizeni Britton & Rose: (subsp. wislizeni) Central spines 4, forming a cross, the lowermost stoutest, and often hooked, 8-10 cm long. Radial spines about 12 needle- to bristle-like, to 5 cm. Flowers yellow to yellowish orange to red, Distribution: central and southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, southwestern Texas, and northwestern Mexico in Chihuahua, Sonora, and Sinaloa.- Ferocactus wislizeni subs. ajoensis Fencl & Kalas: has slender columnar stem, longer, denser and more robust spines and earlier and longer flowering period during the summer months. Distribution: Arizona (Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma counties).
- Ferocactus wislizeni var. albispinus (Toumey) Y.Itô
- Ferocactus wislizeni var. falconieri (Orcutt) Y.Itô
- Ferocactus wislizeni subs. herrerae (J.G.Ortega) Pilbeam & Bowdery: Central spines 6, grey, ribbed, angled or hooked at the tip, to 10 cm (3.9 in) long and 5 mm wide. Radial spines several, white, twisted, radiating. Flowers yellow with red midveins. Distribution: Sinaloa, Sonora, and Durango, Mexico.
- Ferocactus wislizeni var. phoeniceus (R.E.Kunze) Y.Itô
- Ferocactus wislizeni subs. tiburonensis (G.E.Linds.) Pilbeam & Bowdery: Central spines 4, forming a cross, round in cross section, lower one sometimes flattened, to 9 cm long. Radial spines awl shaped, similar to the centrals, not bristle-like. Flowers yellow. Distribution: Tiburon Island, Gulf of California, Mexico.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Ferocactus wislizeni subsp. ajoensis in: Kaktusz-Vilag web: http://www.kaktuszgyujtok.hu/kvo/2014-6/ferocactus-wislizeni-subsp-ajoensis-egy-uj-alfaj-delnyugat-arizonabol
2) Ferocactus wislizeni subsp. ajoensis in: CactiGuide.com web: http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28651
3) Ferocactus wislizeni subsp. ajoensis in: AGAVACEAE NOLINACEAE CACTACEAE web: http://fhirt.org/ferocactus/f_wislizeni_ajoensis.php
4) Fencl & Kalas Bradleya 31. 7. 2013.
Ferocactus wislizeni subs. ajoensis Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
Ferocactus wislizeni subs. ajoensis Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
Ferocactus wislizeni subs. ajoensis Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
Ferocactus wislizeni subs. ajoensis Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
