Common Name: Lemon Cactus

General Information

Ferocactus hamatacanthus is a spiny, succulent, evergreen, barrel cactus, usually producing a single, globose to cylindrical stem that can be up to 60cm tall and 30cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a food. The mature flower buds are harvested on a commercial basis and then canned and sold[]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental[].
Ferocactus hamatacanthus has a wide range and is abundant. Even though some subpopulations are affected by road construction and land use change, these are not a major threats to the species as a whole. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. Ameica - southwest New Mexico, western Texas, eastern and central Mexico

Habitat

Xerophyllous scrub, on a diversity of soils and on hills, in soils from igneous rock and on old river gravels in the desert and grasslands.; at elevations up to 2,150 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.50 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[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Juicy[] The fleshy fruit can be used in cooking as a lemon substitute[], 1438. The green to pinkish red to red, ovoid to oblong fruit is around 20 - 50cm long[, , ].

Flower buds - cooked[]. The cooked buds are added to soups, salads and other dishes[].

The liquid obtained by crushing the pulp inside the stem can be used as an emergency source of fluid[, , ]. It is said to be at least refreshing, though unpleasant and slimy to the taste[]

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

We have no 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[].
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[].

Propagation

Seed -