Fire Barrel Cactus, Biznaga (Ferocactus gracilis subsp. coloratus)

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CactusJordi El Cajon, CA Jun 27, 2009

Fire Barrel Cactus, Biznaga
Ferocactus gracilis subsp. coloratus

Flowering end of June

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Post #6744001
Quote
Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Dec 24, 2010

CJ,
The central spines on all 4 of your images on this page are wider than 3mm, and they are also hooked.
According to the following description from Anderson "The Cactus Family", these 4 photos are that of Ferocactus gracilis subsp. coloratus.

Description:
The flowers are reported to be red only by some, and yellow with a red stripe or tinge by others.
The 'gracilis' subspecies usually grows higher than 3 feet. it's central spines are less than 5mm wide.
The 'coloratus' subspecies seldom grows to 3 feet high. It's widest central spines are often wider than 5 mm.
The 'gatesii' subspecies can grow to 5 feet high. It's central spines are only 3 mm wide and curved but not hooked.

Xeno.




This message was edited Dec 25, 2010 3:09 AM

Post #8275338
Quote
CactusJordi El Cajon, CA Jul 03, 2011

Xeno,
usually most of what Ted Anderson wrote in his book is correct. Even in this case it's almost correct. The spines of ssp. gatesii are only up to 3 mm wide. And so are the spines on my plants with ~ 2.6 mm. But in most pictures of the ssp. gatesii I see plants with hooked (and not only curved) spines.
The spines of a real ssp. coloratus look more brutal.

Jordi

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Post #8670047
Quote
Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Jul 03, 2011

Here are some photos of 'coloratus' with the central hooked spine the same width as your's pictured above.
It is probably a slight variation in the 'coloratus' subspecies.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/36420/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/37038/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/54728/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/304991/

Here are pictures of the true 'gatesii'
Notice how much more slender (not as wide) on the average these central spines are compared to your photo above.
http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/FEROCACTUS/Ferocactus_gatesii/Ferocactus_gatesii/Ferocactus_gatesii.htm
http://www.cactus-succulents.com/ferocactus_gatesii.JPG
http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=1394482
http://www.ferocactus.org/pageID_4441122.html
http://pflanzen-im-web.de.webcomplete.at/pflanzen/saatgut-samen/Kakteen-u-Sukkulenten/Ferocactus-gracilis-ssp-gatesii-Synonym-Ferocactus-gatesii-Kaktus.php

Post #8670119
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CactusJordi El Cajon, CA Jul 03, 2011

Xeno,
don't start comparing plants in greenhouse cultivation to those grown outside in full CA sun. Especially the thickness/wideness of Fero spines are very influenced by that.
Look at the habitat photos of http://www.ferocactus.org/pageID_4962395.html
And in this one youself gave the link to 'coloratus' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/304991/ one can see what is happening with the central spine when the plant gets bigger/older.
Who guaranties you that the photos in the other 3 links are really 'coloratus' with such thin spines?

Jordi

Post #8670200
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