Coville's Barrel Cactus
Emory Barrel
Ferocactus emoryi
(F. covillei)
Photographed in western foothills of Estrella Mountains, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. 12 Sept. 2009.
SPINES: All of the spines, up to 10, at each areole are stout and
several are quite long and curved and mostly not hooked. Fine, hair-like spines
are absent. When young and only 10 to 30 cm tall these barrels have very long,
stout, strongly curved, spines. The look is very distinctive as these long
spines form an impenetrable cage around the nascent barrel.
FLOWERS: Deep red flowers begin opening once summer monsoon is underway
- July thru Sept. Be aware that F. wislizenii flowers, which are
normally orange can also be red or yellow!
STEM: Columnar, up to 2 m or even
3 m tall.
FRUIT: Yellow fruits are arranged at the top, the growing tip, of the
cactus.
RANGE: Southwestern Arizona. All three barrels, including this species
and also
Compass Barrel (Ferocactus cylindraceus) and
Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) can be found in
the Estrella Mountains of Maricopa Co., Arizona.