Canary flora > Cacti
Echinocactus grusonii
Echinocactus grusonii Hildm.
Mother-in-law’s seat
This famous cactus, known as ‘mother-in-law’s seat’, ‘golden ball’, ‘golden barrel’ or ‘hedgehog cactus’,
is a succulent cactus endemic to Mexico, specifically from Tamaulipas to the state of Hidalgo.
Although it is very well known and widely sold, it is unfortunately at risk of
extinction in its natural habitat.
It is a globular, more or less spherical plant, which
usually grows on its own, although adult specimens
sometimes produce basal shoots. It can grow to a height of over 1 metre, but this takes time – which is not a problem,
given that its life expectancy is over 100 years.
It has a bright green body, with a flattened apex, and
21–37 straight, prominent and slender ribs. These are not
visible in young specimens, where they are divided into conical tubercles.
The areoles are initially covered in yellow, then whitish and finally greyish tomentum.
From these emerge 8–10 radial spines measuring over 3 cm in length, and 3–5 central spines measuring over 5 cm in
length. These are strong, striated and straight.
