Massive, ornamental, solitary barrel cactus from northern and central Mexico which may reach 32 inches or more in diameter, and a couple times that much tall. Widely distributed and relatively common in habitat. The largest of the barrel cacti. May be referred to as biznaga or bisnaga (same pronunciation) in Mexico.

The number of ribs may be quite variable (from 5 to more than 60) but is usually on the high end in older plants. The stem is green/greenish yellow/glaucous grey-blue and may lean toward the south. Yellowish, reddish or brownish, striated spines turn dark with age.

Young plants have more pronounced tubercles than mature ones, which display the characteristic Echinocactus feature of a wooly crown. The wool has traditional uses. Yellow flowers emerge from the crown. Scaly and hairy fruit turns dry at maturity.

Slow growing, long lived, and propagated from seed.

Well known in Mexico (along with Ferocactus histrix, with which it may be easily confused), as a source of acitrón (or dulce de biznaga), a popular candy made from the body of the plant after adding sugar and boiling for a day or so. This crystallized candy is traditionally served with rosca de reyes in early January, as well as with other rituals. This has led to massive depopulation as wild cacti were harvested for this use. The production of acitrón is now regulated and supposedly limited to cultivated plants, though wild (illegal) harvesting goes on. This plant is also threatened by foraging by livestock (of flowers and fruit, as well as despined bodies).

Reply to this comment

"Echinocactus platyacanthus is a species of cactus (family Cactaceae). It is native to central Mexico. This species may grow to be the most massive of all barrel cacti."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E...

Reply to this comment