About Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto
Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto is a slow-growing cactus species. Mature individuals can reach up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in height, 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in width, and live for over 100 years. Past records note that some specimens grow to almost 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in thickness. The largest currently known living barrel cactus is an individual called 'Goliat' located at the Area natural de Daxpe, in the county of Cadereyta, Querétaro State, Mexico. This specimen measures 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) in height, at least 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) thick, and weighs approximately 3 metric tons (6,600 lb). Another specimen in Ixmiquilpan, Mexico has a measured diameter of 120 cm (47 in) and a height of 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in). Britton and Rose documented an unpublished photographed specimen that was 1.33 m (4 ft 4 in) thick, 3 m (9.8 ft) tall, and weighed 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). They also noted that Prussian botanist Von Karwinski observed specimens with diameters up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in). This cactus has straight, rigid black spines. Its apex is flat and covered in a yellow, felt-like substance. It is heavily ribbed, with 25 to 30 vertical ribs (occasionally up to 60), and bears large areoles. Its diurnal, tubular flowers bloom from late spring to summer, and are a bright greenish-yellow color. Flowers typically grow to around 2 cm (0.79 in) tall and 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, though they can occasionally reach 8 cm (3.1 in) in width. The fruit of this species is roughly 3 cm (1.2 in) long and covered in hairy wool.
