Giant barrel cactus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant barrel cactus |
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| Ferocactus diguetii on Isla Cerralvo | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ferocactus
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| Species: |
diguetii
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| Synonyms | |
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Echinocactus diguetii F.A.C. Weber |
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The Ferocactus diguetii, often called the giant barrel cactus, is the biggest type of barrel cactus. It belongs to the Ferocactus group. This amazing cactus lives only on some southern islands in Baja California Sur, Mexico. These islands are located in the Gulf of California.
This giant cactus can grow very tall, reaching up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) high. It can also be very wide, up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) across. Its huge size is a special feature called island gigantism. This means living on an island can sometimes make plants or animals grow much larger than their relatives on the mainland. The Ferocactus diguetii has beautiful red flowers that bloom from March to May. Even though it only grows in a small area, it lives in protected places and is not currently in danger.
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About the Giant Barrel Cactus
The Ferocactus diguetii is known for being the largest barrel cactus. It has huge, single stems that grow straight up. These stems can reach heights of up to 4 meters (about 13 feet). They can also be as wide as 1 meter (about 3 feet). Usually, these cacti are about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) tall. They are also often 60 to 80 centimeters (2 to 3 feet) wide.
This cactus has many thin ribs, usually between 25 and 35 of them. Each small bump on the cactus, called an areole, can have up to 8 spines. These spines are usually yellow, but sometimes they can be red. They can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long and have a slight curve.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Ferocactus diguetii appear between March and May. They are a bright fiery red or orange color. Each flower is about 3 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) long and wide. After the flowers, the cactus grows barrel-shaped fruits. These fruits are similar in size to the flowers and are bright lemon yellow. They have small, curved scales on them.
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The flower of Ferocactus diguetii on Isla Cerralvo
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A grown plant on Santa Catalina Island
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A smaller plant on Cerralvo Island
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A close-up view of the cactus spines
Naming the Cactus
The Ferocactus diguetii was first described in 1898. A scientist named Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber gave it the name Echinocactus diguetii. He named it to honor Léon Diguet, a French explorer. Diguet was the first person to discover this cactus. He was exploring for pearls on Isla Santa Catalina.
Later, in 1922, two other scientists, Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose, moved the cactus to a different group. They placed it in the Ferocactus genus. This is how it got its current scientific name, Ferocactus diguetii.
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An old drawing of Echinocactus diguetii from Weber's original description. You can see a person standing next to the cactus to show its size.
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Where it Lives and Grows
The Ferocactus diguetii is found only in the state of Baja California Sur in Mexico. It lives on several islands in the southern Gulf of California. These islands include Isla del Carmen, Isla Danzante, Isla Monserrate, Isla Santa Catalina, Isla Santa Cruz, Isla San Diego, and Isla Cerralvo. One scientist, Ivan Murray Johnston, also reported it on Isla Coronados. However, it might not live there anymore.
This cactus grows at different heights, from 10 meters (about 33 feet) to 300 meters (about 984 feet) above sea level. Scientists Britton and Rose noticed that the cactus grows in many different places. You can find it on mountainsides near large rocks. You can also see it growing on old shell beaches. It often grows alongside other plants like Bursera microphylla and Pachycereus pringlei.
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The coast of Cerralvo Island, showing where F. diguetii grows with Bursera microphylla
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The natural home of the cactus on Santa Catalina Island
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See also
In Spanish: Ferocactus diguetii para niños
