Ferocactus macrodiscus

Ferocactus macrodiscus is a species of cactus (family Cactaceae) in the genus Ferocactus from Guanahuato and Oaxaca States, Mexico.^[2]

Ferocactus macrodiscus
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Ferocactus
Species:	F. macrodiscus
Binomial name
Ferocactus macrodiscus (Mart.) Britton & Rose 1922
Synonyms
Bisnaga macrodisca (Mart.) Doweld 1999 Echinocactus macrodiscus Mart. 1832 Bisnaga macrodisca subsp. septentrionalis (J.Meyrán) Doweld 1999 Echinocactus campylacanthus Scheidw. 1840 Echinocactus macrodiscus f. multiflorus (Rud.Mey.) Schelle 1926 Echinocactus macrodiscus var. multiflorus Rud.Mey. 1914 Echinofossulocactus campylacanthus Lawr. 1841 Ferocactus macrodiscus var. septentrionalis J.Meyrán 1987 Ferocactus macrodiscus subsp. septentrionalis (J.Meyrán) N.P.Taylor 1998

Description

It has a globular body about 4 inches (10 cm) high and up to 18 inches (46 cm) wide, with typically in maturity 13 to 21 vertical ridges or ribs, based on its adherence to the primary Fibonacci series. Areoles are 5 to 10 mm long with 1-4 central spines that are 3.5 cm long and 6-8 radial spines that are 2-3 cm long. Spines range from yellow to red, and curved. The plant blooms from early spring to summer. It is most noteworthy for its pink, approx. two inch (5 cm) wide flowers, which have approximately 200 tepals arranged in a continuous spiral series from perfect sepals on the outside gradually morphing into perfect petals near the center. Fruits are red and spherical 4 x 3 cm with 2 mm long dark brown seeds. ^[3]

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  fruits
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  Plant

Distribution

Ferocactus macrodiscus is found in growing in Oak forest and grasslands San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Puebla and Oaxaca states of Mexico at elevations of 2,300 to 2,600 meters.^[4]

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  Plant growing in Oaxaca, Mexico

Taxonomy

Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius first described Echinocactus macrodiscus in 1832. The name "macrodiscus" comes from the Greek words "makros" meaning 'large' and "diskos" meaning 'disc,' referring to the species' large, flat, disc-shaped shoots. In 1922, Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose classified it under the genus Ferocactus.