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Ferocactus pringlei (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose
Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 125, pl. 11. 1922
Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Ferocactus pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Werderm.
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Sonderbeih. C t. 72. 1933

Ferocactus pringlei Photo by: Gennaro Re
This is one of the controversial geographical forms of the variable Ferocactus pilosus with thick red spines and usually without or with very few white bristles.

Synonyms:

See all synonyms of Ferocactus pilosus
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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Ferocactus pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Werderm.
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Sonderbeih. C t. 72. 1933
Synonymy: 18
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Fire Barrel, Mexican Fire Barrel Cactus

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ferocactus pilosus group

  • Ferocactus piliferus f. flavispinus (hort. ex Schelle) G.Unger: Yellow spined form.
  • Ferocactus pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Werderm.: Plants solitary or forming massive clumps. Central spines bright red, yellow, or a mixture of both. Radial spines usually reduced to many whitish bristles or absent. The subsp. 'pilosus'' has additional wispy and hairy white spines. It appears also to have brighter red, bigger and thicker central spines compared to more common variety.
  • Ferocactus pringlei (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose: With only red acicular spines and none (or very few) hairy white spines. However it look very similar to subs. pilosus and are linked one to each others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. Nowadays both are thought to belong to a unique polymorphic species with some individual covered in fine white hairs, while others do not.
  • Ferocactus stainesii (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose: The Mexican fire barrel cactus is one of the most most spectacular species in this genus. After several (40/50) years plants it can reach about 2 meter high.
  • Ferocactus stainesii f. albispinum hort.: has cream-white spines (not red). Garden origin.

13265 cactus-art Cactus Art
Ferocactus pringlei Photo by: Cactus Art
17846 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ferocactus pringlei Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

17845 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ferocactus pringlei Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
13264 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
- This is one of the most impressive species in this genus. The spines are so thick and are such a vibrant red that large, mature specimens seen in the wild appear totally red. Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli


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