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Ferocactus echidne is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus. It is found in nature in Mexico. This cactus is known commonly as Sonora barrel, Coville's barrel cactus, Emory's barrel cactus, and traveler's friend. This plant is often sold as a houseplant.
Ferocactus echidne are succulents, classified under the Cactaceae family. Succulent leaves are modified leaves that allow plants to store water for survival in dry environments. Leaves are thick, fleshy and shaped to reduce surface area, an advantageous factor for water conservation and CO2 uptake capacity.
Ferocactus echidna grows in limestone soil in the bushlands and tropical forests at elevations of 300 to 1860 meters in Mexico's Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Queretaro, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Guanajuato states.
Researchers investigated the potential medicinal properties of Ferocactus echidne. The outcome of this study showed that the ethanol extracts from its stem exhibit antioxidant activity. It also expressed antimicrobial effects against certain bacterial and fungal strains. More research is required to establish its safety and potential medicinal use.
Ferocactus alamosanus · Ferocactus flavovirens · Ferocactus schwarzii
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ferocactus echidne by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
