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Echinocactus grusonii
Growing as a large roughly spherical globe, it may eventually reach over a meter in height after many years. There may be up to 35 pronounced ribs in mature plants, though they are not evident in young plants, which may have a knobbly appearance. Note: Younger Golden Barrels do not look similar to the mature ones. The sharp spines are long, straight or slightly curved, and various shades of yellow or, occasionally, white. Small yellow flowers appear in summer around the crown of the plant, but only after twenty years or so.
This is a garden plant, so it's possible that it has been imported and cultivated over here. Thanks to you both for the ID. :)
On the other hand barrel cactus are from the desert SW of the US and you're in Portugal, so I'm probably wrong.
Spotted on Aug 29, 2011
Submitted on Aug 30, 2011
+1
