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Ferocactus gracilis H. E. Gates 1933

Baja fire barrel, fire barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, biznaga colorada

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyCactaceaeSucculent (water-storing) plants, often spiny
GenusFerocactusFrom the Latin ferus, “fierce,” and cactus, referring to its heavy spines
SpeciesgracilisSee gracile above

About plant names...

This species is found only in Baja California, Mexico. A subspecies, Ferocactus gracilis ssp. gatesii, is found only on islands in the mouth of Bahia de los Angelas in the Gulf of California near the southern tip of Baja California.

Identification: Plants are singular, globe-shaped or cylindrical, up to 5′ (1.5 m) high and 12″ (30 cm) in diameter. The spine groups are a little complicated. Each group consists of a set of small white radial spines, nearly flat against the cactus, emanating like spokes on a wheel from the areole. Above this are larger, more haphazardly oriented central spines. The central spines are reddish with yellow tips, dominated by four large spines up to 2½″ (7 cm) long, at right angles to each other. 3-9 smaller central spines are also present. The central spines are flattened, often curved near the tips, and minutely ridged. Flowers are funnel-shaped, red, 1½″ (4 cm) × 1¼″ (3.5 cm).

Ferocactus gracilis (Baja fire barrel, fire barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, biznaga colorada)

Central and radial spines in Ferocactus gracilis.

References:

Anderson, Edward F., The Cactus Family, Timber Press, 2001, p. 320

Online References:

CalPhotos

Cactus Art: the World of Cacti & Succulents

CactiGuide.com

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Sonoran Desert Digital Library

Desert-tropicals.com

Ferocactus coloratus H. E. Gates 1933

Ferocactus gracilis var. coloratus (H. E. Gates) G. E. Lindsay 1955

Ferocactus gracilis subsp. coloratus (H. E. Gates) N. P. Taylor 1998

Ferocactus viscainensis H. E. Gates 1933

Ferocactus peninsulae var. viscainensis (H. E. Gates) G. E. Lindsay 1955

Ferocactus gatesii G. E. Lindsay 1955

Ferocactus gracilis subsp. gatesii (G. E. Lindsay) N. P. Taylor 1998

 

Ferocactus gracilis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Ferocactus gracilis (Baja fire barrel, fire barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, biznaga colorada)

5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Ari­zona · ≈ 2½ × 1½′ (79 × 52 cm)

Ferocactus gracilis (Baja fire barrel, fire barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, biznaga colorada)

This is the subspecies, Ferocactus gracilis ssp. coloratus. · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

Ferocactus gracilis (Baja fire barrel, fire barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, biznaga colorada)

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

Range: Zones 9b-11:

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