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Plant Highlight: Ferocactus echidne
by Brian Kemble
About the genus
The term “barrel cactus” (or “biznaga” in Spanish) is often used to refer to plants in the genus Ferocactus, though it is also applied to cacti belonging to the genera Echinocactus and Kroenleinia. Many of the species do indeed have a stout barrel-like form, but there are also smaller species that don’t look barrel-like, as well as ones that have a more cylindrical form (at least older specimens). While some species of Ferocactus are single-headed, others are multi-headed. Geographically, the genus ranges from the southwestern U.S. through much of Mexico to as far south as Oaxaca.
About the plant and its area of occurrence
One of the Ferocactus species from northeastern Mexico is Ferocactus echidne, found over a fairly large area from central Hidalgo northward through Queretaro, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí to southwestern Tamaulipas and southern Nuevo León. Though often multi-headed, it sometimes remains single. The plant body is typically globose to flattened-globose, up to 12 inches tall (30 cm) and green in color, readily visible since the spines are not long or dense enough to obscure it. The usual rib count is about 13, with the ribs being straight to slightly undulating. The areoles have 7 to 9 radial spines, about .8 inch long (2 cm) and brown, amber or yellow in color. In the middle is the single central spine, similarly colored but longer (most often up to about 1.8 inches long, or 4.5 cm). Older spines fade to light gray.
About the flowers and fruits
Ferocactus echidne is spring-flowering, with the flowers emerging around the growing tip at the apex of the plant. The flowers are funnel-shaped and normally yellow, with a diameter of 1.2 to 1.4 inches (3 to 3.5 cm). Red-flowered plants have been found near Ciudad del Maiz in San Luis Potosí, and also in Hidalgo at the southern end of the species’ range. The round to oval fruits have a diameter of .5 to .6 inch (1.2 to 1.5 cm). They are initially green, turning greenish-yellow, yellow or red as they ripen. Atop the fruit are the dried remains of the flower, and its sides are adorned with rounded papery scales. The shiny black seeds within are embedded in a juicy pulp.
Named varieties
Two varieties of F. echidne have been described, though not all authors accept them as being distinct enough to be classified as separate varieties. Near Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, at the northern end of the species’ distribution, plants grow larger and can become short-columnar in age, with a height of up to 31.5 inches (80 cm). They also have longer central spines, up to 3.15 inch (8 cm), and larger fruits (to .8 inch across, or 2 cm). These were described as Ferocactus echidne var. victoriensis. At the southern end of the distribution, in Hidalgo, populations of plants with stouter and stiffer spines and red flowers have been given the name Ferocactus echidne var. rhodanthus. The petals on these plants have a wide red stripe down the middle, but the margins are paler, ranging from pale yellow to pale pink or pale orange.
Plants in cultivation
Ferocactus echidne is not difficult to grow if given good drainage and occasional water during its growing season in the summer and fall months. It can take full sun or dappled sun, but should not be put in too shady a position. It can endure overnight lows in winter down to the low 20’s F (-6° C), but will not tolerate extended sub-freezing temperatures.
