Ferocactus emoryi

Ferocactus emoryi, known commonly as Emory's barrel cactus, Coville's barrel cactus and traveler's friend, is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus.

Description


Ferocactus emoryi is spherical or cylindrical solitary barrel cactus, light green to glaucous, reaching a diameter of 60 - 100 cm and a height of 2 - 2.5 m. It has 15 to 30 ribs with tubercles, especially in the juvenile stage. The spines are white to reddish. The central spine is very strong, 4–10 cm long, while the seven to twelve radial spines reach lengths of up to 6 cm. The large and funnel-shaped flowers are usually red or yellow, reach lengths of up to 7.5 centimeters and have a diameter of 5 to 7 centimeters. The fruit is ovoidal, about 5 cm long. The subspecies F.e. rectispinus has been found with center spines as much as ten inches (25 centimeters) in length or even thirteen inches (32 centimeters). These are the longest spines of any cactus.

Distribution
This species is found in nature in Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur) and in the United States (Arizona).

Habitat
Ferocactus emoryi grows in the desert scrubs, hillsides, rocky slopes and gravely rocky or sandy soils, at an elevation of about 0 - 1200 m above sea level.

Subspecies

 * Ferocactus emoryi var. emoryi
 * Ferocactus emoryi var. rectispinus (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor