Ferocactus Species, Mexican Fire Barrel, Mexican Lime Cactus, Viznaga de Lima

I recently purchased seeds from a CITES certified exporter based in Europe. These seeds are promoted as Ferocactus stainesii pilosus. L...Read Moreooking at an online guide to the identification of cacti, that I respect (http://cactiguide.com/), I find that Ferocactus stainesii is a synonym of Ferocactus pilosus.

I understand the way that taxonomy and taxonomic researchers work. In the past, there has been a species F. stainesii. This species has now been subsumed, probably along with other former species, under the species name F. pilosus. Therefore, I feel it is more appropriate at this time to call my species F. pilosus stainesii. This will make it much easier to identify when a new graduate student in the future once again splits F. pilosus into its various subsumed units.

My experience with these seeds has been excellent. I would estimate I have probably attained close to 100% germination. Seedlings grow rapidly, and look very healthy. I now posess perhaps 50 seedlings of this species, which catiguide.com tells me is "unusual in collections".

I am willing to trade these seedlings for other species which are "rare" or "unusual in collections". As these germinated during spring, 2013, you might not want to take a seedling into your care until spring 2014. Keep me in mind, if you have "unusual in collections" species that I do not have, and wish to obtain this unusual species.

Another synonym of this plant is Echinocactus pilosus

The 'pilosus' variety appears to have brighter red and bigger...Read More and thicker central spines compared to the 'pringlei' variety. They are currently only varieties and have not been promoted to the rank of subspecies.
The flowers are yellow to red.

This is one of the most impresive species in this genus. Easy to grow in collection, and certainly if you can keep them in free vegetatio...Read Moren in your garden. After several (40/50) years plants can reach about 2 meter high.
Greetings,
Albert

Great looking clumping barrel/column with thick red spines. Two supspecies, but they look the same to me. Some seem to be covered in fi...Read Morene white hairs, while others do not... a difference? CAn grow up to 8' tall in nature (Mexico).