Echinocactus platyacanthus

Echinocactus platyacanthus
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Echinocactus
Species:	E. platyacanthus
Binomial name
	Echinocactus platyacanthus; Link & Otto

Echinocactus platyacanthus, also known as the giant barrel cactus, golden barrel cactus, giant viznaga, or biznaga de dulce,^[2] is a species of cactus (family Cactaceae). It is native to central Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert.^[1] This species is the largest of the barrel cacti. In Mexico the hairs are often used for weaving; a traditional candy is produced by boiling the pith.

Description

This slow-growing species can reach sizes up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) wide and can live over a hundred years. Photographs exist of specimens almost four feet (almost 1.2 m) in thickness.^[3] What is probably the largest individual living today is the one called "Goliat" at the "Area Natural de Daxpe" in the Municipio de Cadereyta, Querétaro State, Mexico, which is 9' 8" (2.95 meters) in height, at least three feet (0.9 meter) thick and weighs about three metric tons (6,600 pounds).^[4] Their stems are a gray-ish blue color and the straight, rigid spines are black. The apex of the cactus is flat and covered with a yellow felt-like substance. They're heavily ribbed and have large areoles. Their diurnal, tubular flowers bloom at the end of spring to summer and are a vivid yellow color; they grow to about 2 cm (0.79 in) in height and 3 cm (1.2 in) in width.^[5] The fruit is about 3 cm (1.2 in) long and is covered by a hairy wool.^[6]