Ferocactus emoryi, known commonly as Emory's barrel cactus, Coville's barrel cactus and traveler's friend, is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus.
Description Ferocactus emoryi is spherical or cylindrical solitary barrel cactus, light green to glaucous, reaching a diameter of and a height of . It has 15 to 30 ribs with tubercles, especially in the juvenile stage. The spines are white to reddish. The central spine is very strong, 4–10 cm long, while the seven to twelve radial spines reach lengths of up to 6 cm. The large and funnel-shaped flowers are usually red or yellow, reach lengths of up to 7.5 centimeters and have a diameter of 5 to 7 centimeters. The fruit is ovoidal, about 5 cm long. The subspecies F. e. subsp. rectispinus has been found with center spines as much as long, to even . These are the longest spines of any cactus. Subspecies Three subspecies are accepted: Image Scientific name DistributionFerocactus emoryi subsp. emoryi Arizona to Mexico (Sonora)Ferocactus emoryi subsp. rectispinus NE. Mexico (to Chihuahua)Ferocactus emoryi subsp. covillei Arizona to Mexico (N. Sonora)
Distribution This species is found in nature in Mexico in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur and in the United States in Arizona in Yuma, Pima and Maricopa counties. Ferocactus emoryi grows in the desert scrubs, hillsides, rocky slopes and gravely rocky or sandy soils, at an elevation from .
Taxonomy The species was first described as Echinocactus emoryi in 1848 by George Engelmann who named the plant after American Major William Hemsley Emory, who was responsible for the surveying work on the Mexican border from 1850 to 1854. Charles Russell Orcutt placed the species in the genus Ferocactus in 1926.
References
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, e. 2003. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. In Fl. N. Amer.. Oxford University Press, New York. Tropicos: Ferocactus emoryi Cactiguide: Ferocactus emoryi The Plant List.org: Ferocactus emoryi Desert Tropicals: Ferocactus emoryi Cactus-art.biz: Ferocactus emoryi
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