Cotton top cactus
Echinocactus polycephalus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A round cactus. Sometimes it is longer and 40-70 cm high. It can be 18-25 cm wide. It starts out single but then forms clumps. There are 13-21 ribs with whitish grey spine spots 3 cm apart. The spines are reddish-brown and have 4-8 somewhat flat spines which radiate out. They are 5 cm long. In the centre of these there are 4 spines 4-9 cm long. It flowers in the daytime. The flowers are yellow. They are 5-6 cm long.

There are about 10 Echinocactus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. They grow in the Sonoran desert. They need full sunlight. It needs a temperature above 10°C. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Flesh

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Biznaga de chilitos, Harem cactus

Synonyms

Echinocactus polycephalus var. xeranthemoides J.M. Coulter; Echinocactus xeranthemoides (J.M. Coulter) Rydberg; Emorycactus xeranthemoides (J.M. Coulter) Doweld; Echinocactus polycephalus subsp. xeranthemoides (J.M. Coulter) N.P.Taylor; Emorycactus polycephalus (Engelmann & Bigelow) Doweld: