''Ferocactus histrix'', also known as Acitrón barrel cactus (''Biznaga barril de acitrón'') is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

Ferocactus ''Ferocactus'' is a genus of large barrel-shaped cacti, mostly with large spines and small flowers. There are about 30 species included in the genus. They are found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Description The y ...

native to central

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. It is a large

barrel cactus Barrel cacti are various members of the two genera '' Echinocactus'' and '' Ferocactus'', endemic to the deserts of Southwestern North America southward to north central Mexico. Some of the largest specimens are found in the Sonoran Desert. Des ...

that can be commonly found throughout all the Central Mexican matorral. It produces an edible fruit appreciated for its sour taste.

Description

This cactus grows as an unbranched spherical globe, and can reach more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) in height after several years. Mature plants can have their stem divided in up to 25 to 40 ribs. The epidermis is blue-green in mature plants. As in other cacti species, when the apical meristem is damaged, the plant produces new shoots from the

areole In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cactus, cacti out of which grow clusters of Thorns, spines, and prickles, spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cactus, cacti, and identify them as a family distinct fr ...

s close to the tip of the stem. Spines are light yellow and turn brown as they age. There are one to four protruding central spines that are straight or slightly curve, flattened or angular and up to long. The six to nine radial spines are slightly curved, round and up to long. It produces yellow medium-sized flowers from early to late spring and usually the fruits are mature by summer. It flowers when the plant is 10 years or older, though in cultivation they can flower earlier. After flowering, the Mexican cactus produces small, edible fruits that are often enjoyed by birds and other desert animals. Known for its ability to adapt to arid desert environments. It has a deep root system that allows it to absorb water from deep in the soil. This cactus also has a thick, waxy outer layer that helps prevent water loss through evaporation. This slow-growing cactus initially grows as a globular and then columnar cactus. File:Ferocactus histrix (1).jpg, Plant File:Ferocactus histrix (5761335920).jpg, Flowers File:Ferocactus histrix 2019-07-12 05.jpg, Center of plant File:Ferocactus histrix 2019-07-12 02.jpg, Side view of plant

Distribution and habitat

This cactus can be found (from east to west) in

Hidalgo Hidalgo may refer to: People * Hidalgo (nobility), members of the Spanish nobility * Hidalgo (surname) Places Mexico :''Most, if not all, named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811)'' * Hidalgo (state), in central Mexico * Hidalgo, Coah ...

Querétaro Querétaro, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Querétaro, 18 municipalities. Its capital city is Querétaro Cit ...

Guanajuato Guanajuato, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guanajuato, is one of the 32 states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guanajuato, 46 municipalities and its cap ...

San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí, officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí, is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 59 municipalities and is named after its capital city, San Luis Potosí. It ...

Aguascalientes Aguascalientes, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes, is one of the 32 states which comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. At 22°N and with an average altitude of above sea level it is pre ...

Jalisco Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by s ...

Zacatecas Zacatecas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Zacatecas, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 31 states of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Zacatecas, 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas City, Zacatec ...

and

Durango Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...

which makes it one of the barrel cacti with some of the largest distribution. It grows in xeric shrublands and volcanic slopes at elevations of 1200 and 2600 meters.De Medio Ambiente Y Recursos Naturales, Secretaría. n.d. "Conoce 8 especies endémicas mexicanas, orgullo nacional." gob.mx. Retrieved (https://www.gob.mx/semarnat/articulos/conoce-10-especies-endemicas-mexicanas-orgullo-nacional?idiom=es). File:Ferocactus histrix (5661514910).jpg, Plant growing habitat in Estación Ventura, San Luis Potosi, Mexico File:Ferocactys histrix (5730244114).jpg, Habitat near

Matehuala Matehuala is a city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, situated at an elevation of about 1,500 m. Matehuala is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the northern part of the state, on the border with ...

, San Luis Potosi File:Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii and Ferocactus histrix (5734514264).jpg, ''Ferocactus histrix'' growing in habitat with ''

Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii ''Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii'' is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae. Description ''Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii'' is a succulent plant that grows rapidly and forms large clusters. It has gray-green cone-shaped warts covered in droo ...

'' in

San Luis de la Paz San Luis de la Paz is a city, and the surrounding municipalities of Mexico, municipality of the same name, located in the northeastern part of the state of Guanajuato in Mexico. San Luis de la Paz was founded on August 25, 1552, as a defensive tow ...

in Guanajuato, Mexico

Taxonomy

''Ferocactus histrix'' was first described as ''Echinocactus histrix'' in 1828 by Augustin-Pyrame de Candolle. Its specific epithet, "histrix," is derived from Latin and means "hedgehog," referring to the species' thorns. In 1955, George Edmund Lindsay reclassified the species into the genus Ferocactus. Other names for this species are cactus de barril de caramelo, cactus de caramelo, cactus de electrodo and cactus de barril mexicano.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q145195 histrix Flora of Mexico Plants described in 1955