Ferocactus emoryi
Orcutt
Cactaceae
Echinocactus emoryi Engelm.
Echinocactus covillei (Britton & Rose) A.Berger
Ferocactus covillei Britton & Rose
Echinocactus rectispinus (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
Ferocactus rectispinus (Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose
Common Name:
General Information
Ferocactus emoryi is a spiny, succulent, evergreen, barrel cactus, producing a single, globose to cylindrical stem that can range from 60 - 250cm tall and 30 - 100cm or more in diameter[
1991- Title
- Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
- Publication
- Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
- Author
- Felger R.S. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
- 2153 733X
- Description
-
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, dye and medicine. It is grown as an ornamental[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Ferocactus emoryi is widespread, with no evidence of systematic decline, and occurs in several protected areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
Juice from Ferocactis emoryi is considered by some native people to be highly toxic, and presumably stem tissue or liquid of that species would not be ingested, at least not uncooked[
1991- Title
- Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
- Publication
- Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
- Author
- Felger R.S. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
- 2153 733X
- Description
-
].
Botanical References
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
,
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
Range
Southwest N. America - Arizona, northwest Mexico (Sonora, Baja California Sur)
Habitat
Rocky hills and sandy or rocky flats, (including wash margins, alluvial fans, and mesas), often on limestone; at elevations from sea level to 1,200 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
Height | 1.50 m |
Pollinators | Bees |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
In cultivation, Cactus plants generally will not succeed in moist climates. They usually require a sunny position in a well-drained, circumneutral soil and to be kept more or less dry in the dormant season[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The flowers are highly fragrant[
1991- Title
- Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
- Publication
- Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
- Author
- Felger R.S. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
- 2153 733X
- Description
-
].
Edible Uses
Some parts of the plant used to be eaten[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. No more details
The obovoid to oblong fruits are up to 5cmlong[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
]. This report does not say the fruits are edible.
The liquid obtained by crushing the pulp inside the stem can be used as an emergency source of fluid[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
,
1991- Title
- Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
- Publication
- Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
- Author
- Felger R.S. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
- 2153 733X
- Description
-
]. It is said to be at least refreshing, though unpleasant and slimy to the taste[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
Juice from Ferocactis emoryi is considered by some native people to be highly toxic, and presumably stem tissue or liquid of that species would not be ingested, at least not uncooked[
1991- Title
- Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
- Publication
- Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
- Author
- Felger R.S. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
- 2153 733X
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
Pieces of the plant are salted and roasted to extract juices that are used to wash sore areas[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Other Uses
A deep rose-coloured face paint is obtained from the young, newly emerging central spines of the plant. These spines are pulled from the plant and chewed at the base; the juice obtained is then dabbed on the cheeks[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
We have no further specific information for this species, but members of this genus are a valuable resource in the dry regions where they are native, and they are often utilised by native peoples. These uses are likely to include:-
The plants have been used as cooking vessels. The interior is scooped out and mashed, and the liquid thus obtained replaced in the cavity and heated with hot stones, after which food is placed in the liquid and cooked[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Several species develop tough spines and, after straightening out the tips and reducing the thicker part, these can be used as toothpicks and needles for knitting stockings etc[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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