Echinocactus

From Freepedia

Echinocactus

Image:Echinocactus grusonii.JPG
Echinocactus grusonii

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactaceae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Echinocactus</br>Link & Otto

Species

Echinocactus grusonii - golden barrel cactus
Echinocactus platyacanthus - giant barrel cactus, large barrel cactus
Echinocactus polycephalus - many-headed barrel cactus, cotton top cactus, harem cactus, woolly-headed barrel cactus
Echinocactus texensis - horse-crippler cactus, candy cactus, devil's-head cactus, devil's pincushion
et al.

Echinocactus is a genus of large and beautiful barrel-shaped cacti, usually with large spines and small flowers. Additional species used to be included in the genus but now the number is reduced to six. They thrive on plenty of sun.

A well known species is Echinocactus grusonii from Mexico which is popularly known as the Golden Barrel Cactus. It may reach over a meter in height. Its ribs are numerous and pronounced and the spines are long and yellow. Small yellow flowers appear around the crown of the plant only after many years. It is considered easy to grow and relatively fast growing.

Synonymy

The following genera are considered synonyms to Echinocactus:

Brittonrosea Speg.
Echinofossulocactus Lawr.
Homalocephala Britton & Rose

Reference

Innes C, Wall B (1995). Cacti, Succulents and Bromeliads. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society.
The species list is referenced from cactiguide.com which is in turn referenced from several books which are listed on that site. The principal book listed there is The Cactus Family by Edward F. Anderson, (2001).