Ferocactus wislizeni

(Engelm). Britt. & Rose.

Fishhook barrel cactus

Cactaceae Edible: Stem, Fruit, Seeds, Sap 23,641 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ferocactus wislizeni, the fishhook barrel cactus, also called Arizona barrel cactus, candy barrel cactus, and Southwestern barrel cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to northern Mexico and the southern United States. It is a ball-shaped cactus eventually growing to a cylindrical shape, with spiny ribs and red or yellow flowers in summer. Some sources mistakenly spell the epithet "wislizenii." The correct spelling is with one "i," per ICN article 60C.2.

Description

A barrel cactus. They are round when young and grow taller with age. It can be 50 cm wide and 2 m tall. It has 20-30 ribs. The spines can be red or white or grey. There are 4 central spines and 12 or more smaller spines in a ring. The flowers are produced at the crown. The flowers can be yellow or orange. They are funnel shaped. The fruit are oval and green but turn yellow. They are 5 cm long.

Edible Uses

The stem pulp is eaten fresh or soaked in syrup and dried; it is also made into candies. Seeds are parched, crushed, and made into porridge or bread. The sour fruit is edible. Flower buds are pickled and used as an appetizer.

Traditional Uses

The pulp of the stem is eaten. It is used to make candies. The seeds are parched and crushed and made into porridge or bread. The fruit is edible but sour. Stem is soaked in syrup or sugar and dried and eaten. The flower buds are pickled and used as an appetizer.

Medicinal Uses

The sap has traditional uses, though specifics are not detailed in the available data.

Distribution

It can tolerate temperatures to -7°C. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Notes

There are about 30 Ferrocactus species.

Synonyms

Echinocactus wislizeni Engelmann

Also Known As

Arizona barrel cactus, Barrel cactus, Biznacha, Biznaga de agua, Candy barrel cactus, Fish-hook cactus, Southwestern barrel cactus, Visnada, Visnaga hembra, Visnaga

References (16)

Anderson, E.F., 2001, The Cactus Family, Timber Press. p 56, 336
Anderson, M., 2002, The World Encyclopedia of Cacti and Succulents. Hermes House, New York. p 79
Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 437
Cact. 3:127. 1922

Show all 16 references

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 600
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 64
FELGER & MOSER,
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 284 (As Echinocactus wislizeni)
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 101
https://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/category/edible-plants/ Edible Plants – Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1727
Loughmiller, C & L., 1985, Texas Wildflowers. A Field Guide. University of Texas, Austin. p 29
MINNIS,
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 232
Subik, R., & Kunte, L., 2003, The Complete Encyclopedia of Cacti. Rebo publishers. p 58 (var. herrerae)