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Photo
and © copyright by
Andrea
B. (Bologna, Italy)
http://www.cactusfriends.com/Andrea/index.html
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Etymology:
The
genus
name
"
Hamatocactus"
derives from the Latin word “Hamatus” meaning
“fish-hook” to describe its
central spines furnished of a terminal
hook and the word "cactus", the genus from which this
segregate was removed.
( The genus name implies:
"hooked cactus").
The
species name
"setispinus"
Derives from the Latin name “seta” meaning “bristle”
or “stiff hair of an animal” + “i” (connective
vowel used by botanical Latin) + “spina” meaning
“thorn, prickle, spine” + “us” (latinizing suffix)
( The specific name implies: "
bristle-like spines ").
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Morphology (Identifying
Characteristics):
Habit:
Solitary or slowly
offsetting,
globular.
Stem:
Up to 15 cm tall, 10 cm in diameter; around 13 high
wavy
ribs,
dark bluish green.
Areoles : 10-14 mm long, with short
wool.
Spines: White or yellowish and brown,
central 1 to 3
hooked (16 - 27 mm long);
radials 12 to 16 (10-30 mm long)
Flower: Silky yellow with darker red
throat , 3 - 4,2 cm
across, 3,8 - 5,2(7) cm long.
Fruit:
Red and
fleshy,
globular to
ovate, 8-11 mm long,
that
dry
and
fracture
basally at full
maturity.
Seeds: 1,3-1,7 mm long and 0,5 -0,8 mm diameter.
Phenology:
Summer grower.
Blossoming time:
Summer, it flowers very well, even when quite young,
producing flowers in succession. |
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Cultivation:
This species
is easy and well worth growing.
Require little care once they have reached a nice
flowering size. H. setispinus is suited for any rich, well
drained soil in full sun throughout the year
(But do better with some light shade in summer). Pot
culture: grow best in a well-drained container filled with a
porous cactus soil mixture that doesn't contain too much humus. To
insure robust plants water and fertilize during the aestival growth
cycle, this plant need plenty of water (indicatively to about once a
week) But needs to be avoided wetting the bodies of these plants
while they are in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause
sun burning which can lead to scars or even fungal infections and
death. Care must be taken to prevent sooty
mould forming on the
sugary
secretions from near the
areoles.
Frost Tolerance: In winter keep completely
dry at 5°C this usually aids in maintaining a healthier plant, but
it is hardy as less as -12 to -7°C
depending on the
origin. (Temperature
Zone: USDA 9-11)
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Reproduction: Seeds or cutting. Seeds are the typical way
of reproducing. These cacti will easily grow from seeds and some from
cuttings. Seeds can be sown in the spring or summer in well-drained pots
of cactus soil; sow the seeds thinly on top. Cover them with a bit
of fine quartz grit. Moisten and lay a piece of glass across the top.
The pots should be set in a warm greenhouse until they start to sprout,
after which the glass should be progressively removed so they can
receive full light and air. It isn't
good to keep the glass over the seedlings. Well-developed
seedlingscan be planted separately in
small pots.
Cuttings made from pieces of the stem of any size can be detached and
laid aside for a few days, to allow a protective "skin" to form over the
cut. They can then be planted in pots. Place them in a spot where
they'll receive sun, and do not water until the soil becomes fairly dry.
After a while the soil should be moistened regularly, but never kept
constantly saturated.
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Family:
Cactaceae
(Cactus
Family)
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Scientific Name:
Hamatocactus setispinus
(Engel.) Britton & Rose 1922
Published in:
Britton & Rose, The Cactaceae; descriptions and illustrations of plants
of the cactus family 3: 104-106, f. 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 1922
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES
Appendix II
Distribution: USA (Southern-Texas) and
Northern Mexico (Taumaulipas ; Nuevo Leon, Coahuila)
Habitat: Altitude 0 - 550m
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Synonyms:
- Thelocactus setispinus (Engelm.)
E.F.Anderson
- Ferocactus setispinus,
- Echinocactus setispinus,
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A succession of large silky flowers in summer.
Buds and
floral tube are
scaly. |
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This plant, like the
Ferocacti (within which genera some botanists place this plant, whilst
some others prefer Thelocactus), has
areolar glands that produce
nectar
.
The satiny yellow
flowers have a contrasting red
throats.
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Hamatocactus setispinus:

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