적성선인장-[정명] Ferocactus macrodiscus (Mart.) Britton & Rose

Origin and Habitat: Ferocactus macrodiscusSN|4317]]SN|4317]] is endemic to Mexico, and is distributed in the states of Guanajuato and Oaxaca, and has a disjunct distribution. Anderson (2001) and Arias et al. (1997) report it also from from Querétaro and San Luis Potosí (extent of occurrence <2,000 km2). The species is known from less than 10 locations.
Altitude range: The species occurs at elevations of 2,300 - 2,600 metres above sea level.
Habitat: Ferocactus macrodiscusSN|4317]]SN|4317]] is very habitat specific and only occurs sporadically within the extent of occurrence. It occurs in a very dry area in grasslands and oak (Quercus) forest in association with Tillandsia usneoidesSN|28167]]SN|28167]], bushes and desert trees. During drought periods the plants sink well into the ground, from the effects of heat and dryness. For this reason it is very difficult to locate the cactus until the rains arrive and it swells itself and prepares to bloom. If it is not flowering, it would be difficult to see it at all. The primary threat to this species is the destruction of habitat from the conversion of grasslands and oak forests to subsistence mixed agriculture and cattle ranching. Some subpopulations are in a steep decline.

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Synonyms:

• Ferocactus macrodiscus (Mart.) Britton & Rose

Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Candy cactus, Barrel cactus
SPANISH (Español): Biznaga de Dulce
SWEDISH (Svenska): Platt djävulstunga

 

Description: Ferocactus macrodiscusSN|4317]]SN|4317]] is a medium sized barrel cactus with a depressed-globose stem and blue-green epidermis. Growth from seed is quite rapid and plants will flower when only a few cm across. Flowers are white with pinkish-purple striped petals. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. septentrionalis (J.Meyrán) N.P.Taylor.
Stem: Solitary, flat, depressed-globose, or disc-shaped up to 10 cm tall and 30-45 cm in diameter (but up to nearly 60 in some cases).
Ribs: (13-)16 to 21(-35), somewhat flattened, sometimes acute on the margin, somewhat depressed at the distant areoles.
Areoles: 5 to 10 mm long with yellow felt sunken in notches in the ribs.
Spines: Yellow or red and curved.
Central spines: 1 to 4 (of which one longer and pointing downward), up to 3,5 cm long, stouter and flatter than the radials, often banded.
Radial spines: 6 to 8, more or less curved backward, 2-3 cm long.
Flowers: Obconic,, 3-4(-5) cm long and about 3-4 cm in diameter. Inner perianth-segments linear-oblong, acute bright purple/pink with pale margins. Stamens and style included.
Blooming season: Spring to summer. In habitat it flowers between April and July.
Blooming season: From early spring into summer.
Fruits: Nearly spherical, to 4 x 3 cm, red.
Seeds: To 2 mm, dark brown, finely pitted.
Similar species. Ferocactus macrodiscusSN|4317]]SN|4317]] closely reminds {Homalocephala texensesis}} which has dense wool in the axils of the scales of the ovary, and the seeds are large and smooth, on the contrary the ovary of Ferocactus macrodiscusSN|4317]]SN|4317]] has naked axils of the scales and the seeds are smaller and pitted. In spite of these and other differences, F. macrodiscus appears to be nearly as closely related to Homalocephala texensis and F. macrodiscus may represent transitional forms between Ferocactus and Echinocactus, although Homalocephala is generally considered to be a side development from Echinocactus.

Ferocactus macrodiscus (llifle.com)

https://youtu.be/8avEAACqeDQ?t=1252