Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus gracilis)

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Aug 02, 2004

Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus gracilis

var coloratus (don't know the difference of this variety) mid summer flower

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Post #982935
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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Dec 24, 2010

You wanted to know the difference of this variety? (actually a subspecies now)...
*Subspecies gracilis grows to over 3.3 feet high and has the central spine that is less than 5mm wide. It occurs in Northern Central Baja California.
*Subspecies coloratus dosen't get to be 3 feet high and has the wider central spine that is wider than 5mm. It occurs to the area slightly south of and slightly overlapping that of the gracilis subspecies.
*Subspecies gatesii often reaches 4.9 ft in height. The central spines are curved but not hooked and only 3mm wide. It occurs only on the islets & islands in the mouth of Bahia de Los Angeles.

So what you have pictured here is actually the type species (Ferocactus gracilis subsp. gracilis) because the central spine is less than 5mm wide. I might even suggest that this photo is the gatesii subspecies because the central spine is only 3mm wide and slightly curved but not hooked. How tall is this cactus?

There are other photos on this page which must be sorted out into thier appropriate subspecies page.

Xeno.


This message was edited Dec 24, 2010 6:04 AM

Post #8274800
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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Dec 24, 2010

that plant is about 2' tall... no idea how old or if it's gonna get any taller, though

Post #8274993
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Kell San Leandro, CA(Zone 9b) Dec 24, 2010

In looking at all the photos in PF, is it only the young ones that have such great red spines? Thanks

Post #8275244
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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Dec 24, 2010

Also, most of those that have the wider central spine are the shorter and smaller ones because the coloratus subsp. is naturally smaller too. And even though this is not in the description I listed, the Coloratus's seem to have more reddish in thier spines which might account for the name 'Coloratus'.

Post #8275327
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