Echinocactus grusonii
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 Echinocactus grusonii in a cactus collection
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| Echinocactus grusonii Hildm. |
Echinocactus grusonii is a well known species of cactus native to central Mexico from San Luis Potosi to Hidalgo. Described by Heinrich Hildmann in 1891, it is popularly known as the Golden Barrel Cactus, Golden Ball or, amusingly, Mother-in-Law's Cushion. It belongs to the small genus Echinocactus, which together with the related genus Ferocactus, are commonly referred to as barrel cacti.
Despite being one of the most popular cacti in cultivation, it is rare and critically endangered in the wild.
Growing as a large roughly spherical globe, it may eventually reach over a meter in height after many years. There may be up to 35 pronounced ribs in mature plants, though they are not evident in young plants, which may have a knobbly appearance. The sharp spines are long, straight or slightly curved, and various shades of yellow or, occasionally, white. Small yellow flowers appear in summer around the crown of the plant, but only after twenty years or so.
[edit] Cultivation
Widely cultivated in warmer climates around the world, it is considered easy to grow and relatively fast growing. It has been increasingly used as an achitectural plant in garden design. Jamie Durie, one of Australia's leading garden designers, has called it one of his personal favourite plants. A white-spined form is also in cultivation, as is a short-spined form.
While easy to grow, these plants do have some basic requirements; an average minimum winter temperature of 12°C, good drainage with less watering in winter. Excess water in cool periods may lead to rot.
Outside Mexico, Echinocactus grusonii specimens may be seen in collections of desert plants in many botanical gardens.
[edit] References
- Fitz Maurice, W. A. & Fitz Maurice, B. (2002). Echinocactus grusonii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 4 November 2006.
- Preston-Mafham, Rod & Ken (1992). Cacti: The Illustrated Dictionary. Blandford Press. ISBN 978-0-7137-2092-1.
