Origin and Habitat: Endemic to southern Puebla and southern Oaxaca. Mexico
Habitat: Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]] subsp. spiralis is common in the semiarid regions of Central Mexico in grasslands or on rocky hillsides. The range of this species is south of that of the standard Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]]. It is armed with big spines and a waxy cuticle against both vertebrate and insect herbivores. Only the flower is susceptible to predation. It grows in association with other plant species, including Mammillaria carneaSN|23756]]SN|23756]], Coryphantha elephantidensSN|10082]]SN|3920]], Coryphantha calipensisSN|3920]]SN|10082]], Stenocereus stellatusSN|7942]]SN|7945]], Stenocereus beneckeiSN|8762]]SN|25145]], Stenocereus pruinosusSN|8042]]SN|7951]], Stenocereus marginatusSN|7951]]SN|8042]], Stenocereus treleaseiSN|25145]]SN|8762]], Stenocereus dumortieriSN|7945]]SN|7942]], Myrtillocactus geometrizansSN|8050]]SN|8050]], Pachycereus weberiSN|7669]]SN|7669]], Polaskia chichipeSN|7736]]SN|7736]], Escontria chiotillaSN|7764]]SN|7764]], Opuntia decumbens, Opuntia pumila, Agave lophanthaSN|516]]SN|25300]], Agave macroacanthaSN|25300]]SN|516]] and Tillandsia pueblensis.

• Ferocactus latispinus subs. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) N.P.Taylor
• Bisnaga latispina subs. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) Doweld
• Echinocactus spiralis Karw. ex Pfeiff.
• Ferocactus latispinus var. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus recurvus f. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) G.Unger

• Ferocactus latispinus Britton & Rose
• Bisnaga latispina (Haw.) Doweld
• Bisnaga recurva subs. latispina (Haw.) Doweld
• Cactus latispinus Haw.
• Echinocactus cornigerus var. latispinus C.F.Först.
• Echinocactus cornigerus f. latispinus (Haw.) Voss
• Echinocactus latispinus (Haw.) hort. ex C.F.Först.
• Echinocactus recurvus var. latispinus (Haw.) Mittler
• Ferocactus latispinus var. latispinus (C.F.Först.) Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Mammillaria latispina (Haw.) Tate
• Melocactus latispinus (Haw.) Pfeiff.
• Ferocactus cornigerus (DC.)
• Bisnaga cornigera (DC.) Orcutt
• Cactus cornigerus Moc. & Sessé ex DC.
• Echinocactus cornigerus DC.
• Ferocactus latispinus var. flavispinus (Haage ex C.F.Först.) Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Echinocactus cornigerus var. flavispinus Haage ex C.F.Först.
• Echinocactus latispinus var. flavispinus (Haage ex C.F.Först.) F.A.C.Weber in Bois
• Ferocactus recurvus f. flavispinus (Haage ex C.F.Först.) G.Unger
• Ferocactus latispinus var. flavispinus f. cristatus hort.
• Ferocactus latispinus var. greenwoodii (Glass) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus cylindraceus var. greenwoodiae (Glass) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus latispinus subs. greenwoodii (Glass) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus recurvus var. greenwoodii Glass
• Ferocactus multangularis (Voigt ex Steud.)
• Cactus multangularis Voigt ex Steud.

• Ferocactus latispinus subs. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) N.P.Taylor
• Bisnaga latispina subs. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) Doweld
• Echinocactus spiralis Karw. ex Pfeiff.
• Ferocactus latispinus var. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus recurvus f. spiralis (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) G.Unger
• Ferocactus nobilis (L.) Britton & Rose
• Cactus nobilis L.
• Echinocactus nobilis (L.) Druce
• Ferocactus recurvus (Mill.) Borg
• Bisnaga recurva (Mill.) Orcutt
• Cactus recurvus Mill.
• Echinocactus recurvus (Mill.) Link & Otto
• Echinocactus stellatus Scheidw. non Speg.
• Echinofossulocactus recurvus Lawr. in Loudon
• Ferocactus latispinus var. recurvus (Mill.) Lodé

Description: Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]] subsp. spiralis (formerly known as Ferocactus recurvusSN|4259]]SN|4280]] or sometimes as Ferocactus nobilisSN|4259]]SN|4297]]) is a modest-sized, winter blooming barrel cactus that is distinguishable from the standard Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]] for the more elongate to cylindrical stem, fewer and stouter radial spines and only one longer central spine.
Habit: It is a perennial stem succulent, which normally remains a solitary plant, without dividing or producing offsets.
Stem: Light green to blue-green, larger, upright, spherical to shortly cylindrical, 25 to 45 cm in diameter, 25-50 cm tall, most often taller than wide and exceptionally up to 100 cm tall.
Ribs: 13 to 23 ribs (but usually 15-21), sharp and prominent vertical or and twisting as it grows, hence its epithet.
Note: Juvenile Ferocactus latispinusSN|4297]]SN|4259]] subsp. spiralis shows a tuberculate structure, but as it approaches maturity will change to a ribbed formation.
Areoles: Large with grey to blackish felt atop bumps along the ribs.
Radial spines: 5-7 up to 2,5 cm long, stouter than in the standard species, straight, widely spreading out, annulate white, yellow, pink or reddish. Lacking the more delicate spider-like lateral spines of Ferocactus latispinusSN|4280]]SN|4259]].
Central spines: One large, broad, flat and recurved at the tip, up to 7 cm long and 4-9 mm broad. This prominent spine is usually red, brownish-red or grey-red, but may be amber-coloured.
Flowers: Campanulate, very pale pink with darker purple midveins and a deep almost maroon-pink throat and fragrant up to 2,5-4 cm long and about 3 cm broad. Perianth segments narrow, acute. Scales on the ovary ovate and closely imbricated. Scales on flower tube similar similar to those on the ovary but longer.
Blooming time: Late autumn to early winter, usually in October, but it usually flowers only if the weather is warm and sunny ( need a fair amount of bright sunlight to form) This subspecies starts blooming only when reaches a diameter of about 20 cm, while Ferocactus latispinusSN|4259]]SN|4259]] starts blooming at a smaller size.
Fruit: Oblong about 2 or more cm long, 1,2 mm in diameter, clothed in tapering scales.
Seeds: Dark-brown, reniform, slightly pitted, 1,2-1,5 mm long.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) 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
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Volume II, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1920
5) George Edmund Lindsay, J. Hugo Cota “The taxonomy and ecology of the genus Ferocactus: explorations in the USA and Mexico” Tireless Termites Press, 1996
6) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae, Handbuch der Kakteenkunde:Volume 5, Cereoideae (Boreocactinae)” 1961
7) William Davidson “The illustrated directory of house plants: a practical guide to growing over 500 plants for the home” Salamander, 01/Nov/1990
8) Michael Taborsky, Barbara Taborsky “Advances in Ethology”, Volume 32 Parey, 1997
9) Brian Lamb “Letts guide to cacti of the world” Letts, 17/Oct/1991

Cultivation and Propagation: Ferocactus latispinusSN|4280]]SN|4259]] ssp. spiralis (syn. Ferocactus recurvusSN|4259]]SN|4280]]) is a relatively easy species. Slow growing to start but does well under cultivation.
Growth rate: Slow growing to start but does well under cultivation.
Soil: Grow it in a rich and particularly draining substratum, as it is very sensitive to rottenness when in presence of humidity and low temperatures and let the soil dry out between waterings.
Repotting: Repot in the spring, when their roots become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. After repotting, do not water for a week or more. Use pot with good drainage.
Fertilization: It grows much faster with a low nitrogen content fertilizer in spring and summer.
Watering: Water during the aestival growth cycle from March till October, the thin, fibrous roots suffer if there is humidity, therefore the plant should be watered only when the surrounding terrain is dry. 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 scares or even fungal infections and death. Keep dry as soon as the temperature starts dropping in October and keep it perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. Preferable not to water on overcast days, humid days or cold winter days.
Hardiness: They need to be kept in a cool place during winter rest and can tolerate sporadic light frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather with little danger of being killed. However in cultivation it is better not to expose it to temperatures lower than 5° C, even if in an aerated and protected location. It tends to rot in winter during the resting phase, if kept wet. In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Outdoors this plant is very adaptable, as long as you avoid excessive humidity in the winter months.
Sun Exposure: It need full sun exposures with ample airflow for best appearance.
Uses: The "Candy cactus" is used to make sweets. The middle is cored out and soaked in sugar, then chopped up and eaten.
Warning: The spines that hook around can graph you if you get too close.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the infested plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much. To prevent rottenness it is also advisable to surround its root neck by very rough sand or grit, this help a fast water drainage.
Propagation: Almost exclusively by seed. The seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sandy soil, any time during the spring when temperatures are warm. The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted after which they can be planted separately in small pots.