[Barrel Cacti: The Genus Ferocactus in the Southwestern Deserts of the United States]

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus

Ferocactus cylindraceus

Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus

Flower of Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Flower of Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

California barel cactus blooming along the western wash in Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.........March 28, 2010.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) with Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

California barrel cactus blooming at left with a ring of smaller hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) around it. Photographed a mile or so up Hornbend Canyon off San Diego County Route S-2, opposite Box Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park........March 26, 2011. The photo at right shows a close-up of a flower of California barrel cactus in bloom at Ram's Hill outside Borrego Springs, CA......March 21, 2005.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

Californica barrel cactus as seen with fish hook cactus (Mammillaria dioica) between granitic boulders along the desert wash of Hornblend Canyon, located on the west side of Highway S-2 at about MP 26.1, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park..........March 30, 2010.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

California barrel cactus (with mormon tea behind it) growing on rock outcrops in the Spirit Mountains of Nevada, about 4 to 5 miles north of the Laughlin Highway.........February 21, 2013.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

California barrel cactus (both young and old) found at Harper Flat, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA......March 24, 2005.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

California barrel cactus blooming in Harper Wash, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA.....March 26, 2006.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

California barrel cactus blooming at left in Borrego Palm Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park........March 24, 2010. The photo at right shows California barrel cactus as observed in bloom along the West Truxhaven Trail opposite Fonts Point, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA.....March 27, 2010.

Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus) - Barrel Cactus, California Barrel Cactus: Ferocactus cylindraceus (Synonyms: Echinocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)

Californica barrel cactus as seen with fish hook cactus (Mammillaria dioica) between granitic boulders along the desert wash of Hornblend Canyon, located on the west side of Highway S-2 at about MP 26.1, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park..........March 29, 2006.

Paul Slichter