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Barrel Cactus is member of the plant family Cactaceae, characterized by being approximately barrel-shaped. Barrel cacti are classified into the two genera
EchinocactusEchinocactus is a genus of large barrel-shaped cacti, usually with large spines and small flowers. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος echino- "spiny" and cactus. Other types of Barrel Cactus are assigned to genus Ferocactus.Additional species used to be included in the genus...
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FerocactusFerocactus is a genus of large barrel-shaped cacti, mostly with large spines and small flowers. There are about 30 species included in the genus Ferocactus. They are found in south-western USA and north-western Mexico. The young specimen are columnar but as they grow older ribs form and they take...
, both of which are found in the Southwest Desert of North America. Their pineapple-shaped fruits can be easily removed but are not recommended for eating. The barrel cactus may reach over a meter in height. Its ribs are numerous and pronounced and the spines are long and yellow.
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A
Barrel Cactus is member of the plant family Cactaceae, characterized by being approximately barrel-shaped. Barrel cacti are classified into the two genera
EchinocactusEchinocactus is a genus of large barrel-shaped cacti, usually with large spines and small flowers. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος echino- "spiny" and cactus. Other types of Barrel Cactus are assigned to genus Ferocactus.Additional species used to be included in the genus...
and
FerocactusFerocactus is a genus of large barrel-shaped cacti, mostly with large spines and small flowers. There are about 30 species included in the genus Ferocactus. They are found in south-western USA and north-western Mexico. The young specimen are columnar but as they grow older ribs form and they take...
, both of which are found in the Southwest Desert of North America. Their pineapple-shaped fruits can be easily removed but are not recommended for eating. The barrel cactus may reach over a meter in height. Its ribs are numerous and pronounced and the spines are long and yellow. Small yellow flowers appear around the crown of the plant only after many years. It is considered easy to grow and relatively fast growing. They may also produce round offshoots from the main stem, called pups.
The
SeriThe Seris are an indigenous group of the Mexican state of Sonora. The majority reside on the Seri communal property , in the towns of Punta Chueca and El Desemboque on the mainland coast of the Gulf of California...
Indians distinguished three species of barrel cactus:
mojepe siml (
'saguaro barrel cactus',
Ferocactus acanthodes),
siml caacöl ('big barrel cactus',
Ferocactus covillei) and
siml áa ('true barrel cactus',
Ferocactus wislizenii). The species
F. covillei also had several other names. The species
Ferocactus covillei was also called
siml cöquicöt, 'killer barrel cactus', to indicate that it should not be eaten or its liquid consumed.
Many people mistakenly believe that the common sight of a tipped over barrel cactus is due to the cactus falling over from water weight. Actually, barrel cacti fall over because they grow towards the sun, just like any other plant. Unlike other plants, however, the barrel cactus usually grows towards the south (to prevent sunburn), hence the name "compass cactus."
The barrel cactus is the last of the cacti to bloom in the calendar year. When it does bloom, a bright orange flower appears. The flower yields to a yellow small pineapple-shaped fruit.