Canary flora > Cacti
Ferocactus latispinus
Ferocactus latispinus (Haw.) Britton & Rose
Hooked biznaga
It has a globular body, as is typical of this genus, with a
flattened, depressed upper surface that is greyish-green in colour.
The ribs are narrow, numbering between 8 and 14, although this number may increase to as many as 23 with age.
The areoles emerge as protuberances along the ribs;
they are large and rounded in shape, with a greyish downy covering.
It has between 6 and 12 white or reddish radial spines, 2 to 2.5 cm long, with transverse striations.
The four central ones, which are much longer and more intensely coloured, are erect or curved outwards. Among these,
there is a lower one that develops more than the rest; it is flat and much more hooked at the tip, reaching a width of 77 mm.
The flowers, measuring around 3.5 cm, are whitish or red, or even mauve or violet-blue.
Part of its popularity is due to its early flowering compared to the rest of the genus, which only flowers once it has reached maturity;
in contrast, Ferocactus latispinus flowers when it is just 15 cm in diameter.
