Common Name:

General Information

Ferocactus latispinus is a spiny, succulent, evergreen, barrel cactus, usually producing a single, globose to cylindrical stem that can be up to 30cm tall and 40cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental[].
Ferocactus latispinus has a wide distribution, is abundant in many areas, occurs in numerous protected areas, and is not declining at a rate sufficient to qualify for a threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - central and southern Mexico

Habitat

Xerophyllous scrub types, grassland, and open Quercus forest; at elevations from 600 - 2,600 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.35 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The pulp in the stems is used for making candy[, ].

Fruit[]. The fresh fruits are edible, but very acidic or sour[]. The ovoid fruit is up to 25mm long[].

We have no more specific information for this species, but members of this genus are a valuable resource in the dry regions where they are native, and they are generally much utilised for food by native peoples. These uses are likely to include:-
The cooked buds and flowers have a flavour somewhat like that of Brussels sprouts. Sometimes the buds were eaten fresh, although they are bitter unless cooked[].
The seeds are rich in oil and protein, and can be ground into an oily paste[].
The stems of barrel cacti are traditionally baked in a pit, and the cooked pulp sliced and eaten[].
The candied pulp of the stem of various barrel cacti makes an excellent sweetmeat, which is much used in Mexico and the southwestern United States, and is sold in the eastern United States as ‘cactus candy’[]

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[]. No more details

Other Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but members of this genus are a valuable resource in the dry regions where they are native, and they are often utilised by native peoples. These uses are likely to include:-
The plants have been used as cooking vessels. The interior is scooped out and mashed, and the liquid thus obtained replaced in the cavity and heated with hot stones, after which food is placed in the liquid and cooked[].
Several species develop tough spines and, after straightening out the tips and reducing the thicker part, these can be used as toothpicks and needles for knitting stockings etc[].

Propagation

Seed -

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