Echinocactus polycephalus

Botanical Description

Echinocactus polycephalus is a very spiny, evergreen, succulent barrel cactus that branches from the base to form compact mounds of usually 2 - 50 stems, though one old specimen examined had in excess of 150 stems. Individual stems are spherical to cylindrical, around 15 - 40cm tall and 15 - 30cm in diameter; plants can form clumps 50 - 100cm wide, exceptionall to 200cm[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. , 1991 Title Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family Publication Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95 Author Felger R.S. et al Publisher Year 2014 ISBN 2153 733X Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often grown as an ornamental. Echinocactus polycephalus has a large range, and even though it is locally affected by urbanization and illegal collection for horticulture, most of the subpopulations are abundant. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].