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Ferocactus viridescens

(Torr. & Gray) Britt. & Rose

San Diego Barrel Cactus

G4Apparently Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134427
Element CodePDCAC08060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusFerocactus
Other Common Names
San Diego barrelcactus (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date1997-12-22
Change Date1993-07-07
Edition Date1988-01-29
Edition AuthorsLAMBERT, A.
Range Extent100-1000 square km (about 40-400 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
California near the coast from Del Mar south and inland nearly as far as Otay. Mexico in northwest Baja California Benson, 1969).
Threat Impact Comments
Most cacti subject to horticultural collecting.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A globular, massive cactus with thick, promintent ribs. The spines are bright red to brown or yellowish, and are hooked. The conspicuous flowers are greenish-yellow with red midveins.

Diagnostic Characteristics

Ferocactus viridescens can be characterized by a principal central spine that is neither bristlelike nor yellow and rigid, but very stout, rigid, pointing downward through its entire length, this evident in the older areoles on the side of the plant; stem short and turgid, but length usually greater than diameter, 15-30(45) cm long, 20-35 cm in diameter (Benson, 1982).

Habitat

It occurs on sandy or gravelly soils of hillsides in the chaparral; 30 to 50 feet elevation (Benson, 1969).

Ecology

Ferocactus species are likely to utilize nurse plants to access favorable microhabitat conditions early in development.

Reproduction

All Ferocactus species produce fleshy-fruits which are consumed and dispersed by animals (Valiente-Banuet and Godinez-Alvarez 2002).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS2Yes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest4,455
References (9)
  1. Abrams, L. 1951. Illustrated flora of the Pacific states: Washington, Oregon, and California. Vol. 3. Geraniaceae to Scrophulariaceae. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. 866 pp.
  2. Benson, L. 1969. The Native Cacti of California. Stanford University Press: Stanford, California. 243 pp.
  3. Benson, L. 1982. The Cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 1044 pp.
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Munz, P.A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1086 pp.
  6. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
  7. Nobel, P., ed. 2002. Cacti: biology and uses. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 280 pp.
  8. Smith, J.P., and K. Berg. 1988. California native plant society's inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 4th edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 168 pp.
  9. Valiente-Banuet, A., and H. Godinez-Alvarez. 2002. Population and Community Ecology. Pages 91-108. in: P. Nobel, editor. Cacti: Biology and Uses. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.