California Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
Also known as: Compass Barrel Cactus · Miner's Compass · desert barrel cactus
Plantae
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 50-100 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Biome
- Desert
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Sessile
- Breeding
- Seeds
- Defense
- Spines
- Status
- Common
About
A barrel-shaped cactus covered in dense, hooked reddish spines that can lean southward over its lifetime, earning it the nickname 'compass cactus.' It stores water in its ribbed, accordion-like flesh to survive years of desert drought.
Life cycle
- 1.seedA dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
- 2.sproutA first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
- 3.saplingA young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
- 4.matureFully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Genus
- Ferocactus
- Species
- Ferocactus cylindraceus