| Ferocactus latispinus | |
|---|---|
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| Ferocactus latispinus in flower | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Ferocactus |
| Species: | F. latispinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ferocactus latispinus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Ferocactus latispinus is a species ofbarrel cactus native to Mexico.
Ferocactus latispinus grows as a single globular light green cactus reaching the dimensions of 30 centimetres (12 in) to 1 meter in height and 40 centimetres (16 in) across, with 21 acute ribs. Its spines range from reddish to white in color and are flattened. The four central spines growing up to 4–5 centimetres (1.6–2.0 in) long and 4–9 millimetres (0.16–0.35 in) wide and 5-15 marginal spines that are straight or recurved. Flowering is in late autumn or early winter.[2] The funnel-shaped flowers are purplish or yellowish and reach 4 cm long, and are followed by oval-shaped scaled fruit which reach 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long.[3]
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Two subspecies are recognised, differing in their number of radial spines.[3]
| Image | Name | Description | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Ferocactus latispinus subsp. greenwoodii(Glass) N.P.Taylor | 4-5 radial spines | Mexico (Oaxaca) |
.jpg) | Ferocactus latispinus subsp.latispinus | 9–15 radial spines, Devil's Tongue Barrel or Crow's Claw Cactus.[2] | Mexico (Durango to Puebla) |
.jpg) | Ferocactus latispinus subsp.spiralis(Karw. ex Pfeiff.) N.P.Taylor | grows up to 1 meter tall, 5–7 radial spines | Mexico (Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca). |
The species isendemic to Mexico; the more widely distributed subspecieslatispinus ranges from southeasternDurango, throughZacatecas,Aguascalientes, east to the western parts ofSan Luis Potosí,Hidalgo andPuebla, as well as to easternJalisco,Guanajuato,Querétaro andMexico State. Subspeciesspiralis is restricted to the southern parts ofOaxaca and Puebla.[3] This species is typically found under nurse plants like tree canopies and shrubs. Plants are found growing in oak forest, grasslands, silt flats, and in rocky outcrops at elevations of 600 to 2,600 metres (2,000 to 8,500 ft).[4] These nurse plants protect these smaller plant species below them from harsh weather conditions; being able to provide shade for the cacti in arid and sunny environments.[5]
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Originally described asCactus latispinus in 1824 by English naturalistAdrian Hardy Haworth, it gained its current name in 1922 with the erection of the genusFerocactus by American botanistsBritton andRose.[3] The species name is derived from theLatinlatus "broad", andspinus "spine".Ferocactus recurvus is a former name for the species.[3]
Ferocactus latispinus is fairly commonly cultivated as anornamental plant. It blooms at an early age which is a desirable horticultural feature. It is hardy to −4 °C, with an average minimum temperature of 10 °C.[2]
Theslime mold,Didymium wildpretii feeds on the decaying remains ofF. latispinus in Mexico.[6]
Media related toFerocactus latispinus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toFerocactus latispinus at Wikispecies