FEROCACTUS: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, USES - SCIENCE - 2025

Ferocactus is a genus of cacti with a solitary stem or grouped in a globular, barrel-shaped or cylindrical shape belonging to the Cactaceae family. This genus is native to the dry and desert environments of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

The name Ferocactus derives from the Latin "ferus" which means fierce and "cactus" for being a thorny plant. Indeed, the literal translation would be "fierce cactus", due to its prominent thorns.

Ferocactus. Source: pixabay.com

It is commonly known as biznaga, sweet biznaga, devil's tongue, huamiche or crow's claw. Some species are Ferocactus alamosanus, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus flavovirens, Ferocactus gracilis, Ferocactus glaucescens, Ferocactus histrix, Ferocactus latispinus, Ferocactus pilosus, Ferocactus robustus, Ferocactus stainesii and Ferocactus wislizenii.

The ferocactus are plants with a cylindrical or globular appearance of gray-green color and from just a few centimeters to more than three meters in height. They bloom during the summer and are characterized by blooming from the first years of sowing.

As ornamentals they are used in rocky areas, parks and cactus gardens, or in pots and planters for balconies, patios or terraces. In traditional medicine, ferocactus is used for the treatment of circulatory and respiratory diseases, as a diuretic and to eliminate kidney stones.

General characteristics

Trunk

The ferocactus is a plant with a globular appearance that, as it grows, acquires a barrel or columnar shape. They measure between 2-30 cm in height, although some species in their natural habitat can reach 3 m in height.

Thorns

This species is characterized by its prominent longitudinal ribs covered by areolas with strong slightly curved spines, hence its name "Ferocactus".

Its hue varies according to the species and the environmental conditions where it develops, ranging from grayish-green to bluish-green.

flowers

Large, bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers develop at crown level during summer. The diversity of colors varies between yellow, orange, reddish, bluish or violet as in the Ferocactus stainesi species.

Detail of the flower of Ferocactus. Source: Tomas Castelazo

Fruit

The fruits are small berries 5-7 cm in diameter, yellow in color and covered by a viscous liquid. These succulent fruits, grouped in the crown of the cactus, are part of the diet of several wild species, such as the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Caryophyllales

- Family: Cactaceae

- Subfamily: Cactoideae

- Tribe: Cacteae

- Genus: Ferocactus Britton & Rose

Etymology

The generic name Ferocactus comes from the Latin adjective "ferus" which means wild or untamed. The epithet "cactus" is related to the strong spines of certain species.

Habitat and distribution

The species of the genus Ferocactus are native to the desert of Baja California, Arizona, California, southern Nevada and the northern region of Mexico. Indeed, their common habitat is desert lands and grasslands on sandy, gravel and rocky soils at an altitude of 300-1,600 meters above sea level.

A great majority of the species grow solitary, others such as Ferocactus robustus or F. glaucescens grow in groups or forming clumps. These cacti are very sensitive to frost, so their growth is limited to certain altitudes and latitudes lower than 1,800 meters above sea level.

Commercially grown ferocactus thrive on calcareous soils, but equally thrive on nutrient-rich soils. For their effective development, a warm environment and full sun exposure favors them when they are settled and have a certain time.

Its natural distribution area is north of Mexico in the states of Baja California, Sonora, Durango, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas

Ferocactus in its natural habitat. Source: pixabay.com

Culture

Spread

The species of the genus Ferocactus multiply easily by seeds and from cuttings or suckers that sprout at the base of the stem. As an ornamental plant, cacti are planted in pots in order to enjoy the wide range of shades of their flowers.

Once the cultivation is established, either by seed or by cuttings, the pots should be placed in a greenhouse with full sun exposure. The pots do not require frequent watering, only when the substrate is really dry; they also demand good air circulation.

The seedlings obtained from seeds must be placed in full sun exposure to encourage their growth and development. In both cases, sufficient solar radiation and aeration will guarantee the development of the plant.

Substratum

Loose, well porous substrates are recommended for sowing, preferably sandy with a little compost or dry and sifted humus. The texture of the substrate must guarantee efficient drainage, to avoid ponding and the accumulation of rain or irrigation water.

Irrigation

Irrigation should be scant, just every fifteen days during the spring and summer, every month during the fall and zero during the winter. The substrate should allow water to flow during irrigation, but keep the roots cool.

Fertilization

In commercial crops, the application of a specific fertilizer for cacti is recommended during spring and summer. This crop adapts to dry and high temperature environments, so in cool environments it is suggested to keep it well lit.

Ferocactus viridescens. Source: Stickpen

Maintenance

After flowering and during fruiting, ferocactus secrete a viscous substance that attracts some insects, such as ants and mealybugs. In addition, this liquid is an ideal medium for the formation of molds that can cause some type of stem rot.

In this case, it is advisable to clean the cactus, remove the remains of the flowering and wash its surface with plenty of water, avoiding any physical damage that becomes an entry point for the infection of new pathogens.

Ferocactus are very long-lived plants that, when grown in pots, require frequent transplantation, renewing the substrate and using a larger pot. Depending on the species, variety, and size, cacti can be transplanted every two years.

Applications

The different species of ferocactus possess natural compounds or secondary metabolites, such as furanochromones, which have therapeutic properties for certain diseases. In fact, they can improve the circulation of the coronary arteries and have vasodilatory effects.

In addition, they improve lung functionality, being recommended in case of asthma attacks since it favors the circulation of the respiratory tract. On some occasions it is used as a diuretic and facilitates the expulsion of stones from the urinary tract.

Fruits of Ferocactus wislizeni. Source: John Owens

The fruit or berry of some species, called guamiche, is used in a traditional way in different regions of Mexico. In fact, guamiche is used to make traditional desserts and a refreshing drink called "guamiche water".

References

1. Ballesteros-Barrera, C., Aguilar-Romero, O., Zarate-Hernández, R., & Ballesteros-Tapia, L. (2017). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION OF NINE SPECIES OF THE GENUS Ferocactus (CACTACEAE) IN MEXICO. Fitotecnia Mexicana Magazine, 40 (2).
2. Del Castillo, RF (1986). Seeds, germination and establishment of Ferocactus histrix. Cactaceae and Succulents Mexicanas, 31 (1), 5-11.
3. Ferocactus. (2018). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
4. Ferocactus latispinus or devil's tongue (2019) Facts about plants with their care since 2001. Retrieved from: consultaplantas.com
5. González Machorro, EM, & Navarro Carbajal, MDC (2011). Reproductive phenology of Ferocactus robustus in San Mateo Tlaíxpan, Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico. Mexican Cactaceae and Succulents, 56 (4), 100-111.
6. Sánchez de Lorenzo Cáceres, JM (2003) The species of the genus Ferocactus cultivated in Spain. Recovered in: arbolesornamentales.es