Emory's barrel cactus

Ferocactus echidne is a small to medium-sized cactus that grows alone or in clusters. Its flattened to cylindrical shoots are typically cloudy to gray-green, reaching heights of 12 to 35 cm (4.7 to 13.8 in) and diameters of 12 to 20 cm (4.7 to 7.9 in). The plant has 13 to 21 sharp, ribbed ridges without tubercles. Its thin, amber-colored spines are needle-like and smooth, with a single central spine up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long, and seven to nine shorter, radiating marginal spines. At the top of its shoots, the cactus produces funnel-shaped flowers, yellow or red, 2 to 4.5 cm (0.79 to 1.77 in) long and 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) in diameter. Its fruits are spherical to egg-shaped, light green or white with pinkish or red hues, fleshy, and growing up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long. Ferocactus possess morphological modifications that enable them to grow in environments hostile to most plants such as

Bulky Globualar Spikes Thick cuticle The structure of this plant is designed to help retain water in dry low moisture environments.

Ferocactus echidna grows in limestone soil in the bushlands and tropical forests at elevations of 300 to 1860 meters in Mexico's Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Queretaro, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Guanajuato states.

Habitat. Ferocactus echidne thrive in low humidity, high temperature and dry environments.

Researchers investigated the potential medicinal properties of Ferocactus echidne. The outcome of this study showed that the ethanol extracts from its stem exhibit antioxidant activity. It also expressed antimicrobial effects against certain bacterial and fungal strains. More research is required to establish its safety and potential medicinal use.