Cacti have earned great popularity among flower growers, because few other plants have the same unpretentious character. In addition, most varieties of these "hedgehogs" are quite attractive and bloom well at home. From this material you will learn what round cacti are called, and we will also share their description and photo.
Espostoa
This variety of cleistocactus is found naturally on the mountain slopes of southern Ecuador and Peru. Espostoa cannot be called only a round cactus, because its stem retains its rounded shape only at a young age. And in the future, the plant becomes columnar, reaches a height of five meters. Some varieties, like Nana, stay round all their lives.
A distinctive feature of espostoa is a huge amount of hairs that create a whitish, woolly edge on the trunk. Due to this feature, the cactus is often called the "cotton cocoon". These hairs protect the plant from overheating, so it is not afraid of even hot sun.rays.
Of all varieties of cactus, woolly espostoa, or Lanata, is grown at home. It reaches 30 cm in height and may have several side shoots. At home, it blooms very rarely and only when kept in greenhouse conditions. Then the plant releases a peduncle with large bell-shaped buds.
Notocactus
This genus of large round cacti, uniting 25 species, is naturally found on the mountain slopes and uplands of Argentina, Paraguay, Southern Brazil and Uruguay. They are distinguished by a single round or cylindrical stem, which in some cases reaches a height of 100 cm. As a rule, lateral shoots are absent in nanocacti, and this species rarely produces children.
Dark green plants have pronounced ribbing. There are small pubescent tubercles on the tops of the ribs. Each produces 1 to 5 reddish-brown central spines and up to 40 yellow radials.
Notocactus blooms well at home. At this time, multi-petalled bell-shaped buds appear in the upper or lateral part of the stem. Peduncles are painted in red, yellow or orange tones, while at their base a more saturated, contrasting color. The buds last seven days and then fade.
Lophophora cactus
This round cactus, the photo of which is shown below, grows in its natural environment on the mountain slopes of Mexico and parts of the United States. Its distinguishing feature lies in the unusual composition of the juice, which containsalkaloids. This "nectar" is often used in folk medicine. But excessive consumption of juice causes hallucinations. Therefore, the cultivation of the Lophophora cactus is prohibited in many countries of the world.
The plant has a rounded, slightly flattened stem, reaching 15 cm in diameter. The skin, dyed blue-green, is soft and velvety to the touch. The culture does not have thorns, but there are thick tufts with straw-colored fluff.
At home, succulents bloom in summer. At this time, tubular, semi-double buds with a diameter of 2 cm appear on it. Depending on the variety, their petals are painted in different shades: from pale red to snow-white. After flowering, fruits with seeds appear in place of the buds.
Cactus Parody
This numerous genus includes more than 50 varieties. In their natural environment, they grow in Uruguay, Paraguay, Northern Argentina and Bolivia. Round cacti are distinguished by a short cylindrical or spherical stem with well-defined ribs. Each of them has high tubercles with pubescent areoles. From them comes from 1 to 5 central curved spines up to 4 cm long, as well as 10-40 short needles.
Succulent blooms well at home, besides it releases buds at a young age. The peduncles, located at the top in small groups, have many petals and a funnel shape. After the buds on the plant, fruits are formed, covered with small thorns and hairs.
Echinocactus Gruzoni
This round, yellow-needled cactus grows naturally only in the hot regions of Mexico. Its globular stem, which can become barrel-shaped with age, reaches up to 1 meter in diameter. But at home, culture has a more modest size. The succulent does not bush and does not form children under comfortable conditions.
The surface of the stem is glossy, painted in dark green. It has ribs, the number of which in adult specimens reaches 30–40 pieces. They have tight-fitting, pubescent areoles, merging at the top into yellow “fur caps”. Each leaves 4 central spines up to 5 cm long and 10 three-centimeter radial needles. The thorns have a bright yellow color, which makes the second name of the round cactus sounds like the Golden Ball.
The plant blooms in late spring - early summer. But buds are formed only in specimens that have reached the age of twenty. Single tubular peduncles reach 7 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter. Their petals are colored yellow-brown.
Lobivia
This numerous genus includes up to 100 species of cacti. In the natural environment, plants can only be found in the highlands of Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. The plants got their name in honor of the last country, but their name is an anagram.
Succulent is a classic rounded cactus. At a young age, the culture has a symmetrical spherical stem. But over time heelongates and becomes cylindrical. The stem does not branch, but numerous basal children are formed on it. Thanks to this feature, even one instance of an exotic flower can form a large cushion colony.
Depending on the variety, the ribs of the succulent are sharp or rounded. They have areoles with hard spines. The culture blooms well indoors. Single, separate-petal buds reach 30 cm in length and 15 cm in diameter. The color of the petals can be of various colors and even multicolor. The bud lasts from 1 to 3 days, after which it fades. But a new flower opens in its place. During flowering, up to 25 buds bloom on the culture.
Echinocereus
The genus of round cacti, which includes 60 varieties, occurs naturally in the southern states of the United States. These plants reach up to 60 cm in height. They have a rounded, short stem, on which side shoots are often formed. The skin is thin, painted in gray-green tones. Over time, the base of the stem turns yellow-brown.
There are 5 to 21 protruding ribs on the trunk, on which the areoles are located. Hard long or short spines come out of them. They can stick out perpendicular to the trunk or fit snugly against it. Each areola has 3 to 30 needles 10 cm long.
Succulents have tubular, multi-petalled funnel-shaped buds. They are located singly on the stem. After flowering, fleshy, juicy fruits are formed in place of the buds, which can be consumed infood.
Echinopsis
In Greek, the name of this cactus means "hedgehog". In its natural environment, it can be found in Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Young specimens of this species have a globular stem. But over time it becomes cylindrical. The skin of the succulent is smooth, dark or bright green, depending on the variety. On the clearly visible ribs of the plant there are large areoles with short hairs. Spines come out of them, the length of which reaches from a few millimeters to 2–3 cm.
Culture blooms with large funnel-shaped buds, reaching 14 cm in diameter. The petals are pink, red or white. Some varieties exude a pleasant aroma.
Ferocactus
This genus of round cacti with long needles includes 30 plant species. In nature, they can be found in the deserts of Mexico and in the west of North America. Depending on the species, succulents have a spherical or columnar stem. The trunk is single or strewn with children. In height, cultures reach from 10 cm to 4 meters. Some varieties form extensive colonies, reaching 2-3 meters in diameter and consisting of hundreds of shoots.
The ribs are pronounced and deeply cut. The areoles are pubescent and large, but at the top they do not form the "cap" of the cactus. The spines are long, powerful with curved tips. The needles are painted in bright colors and reach up to 13 cm in length.
At home, only specimens with a height of 25 cm or more bloom. Therefore, the buds will have to wait a long time. Flowering occurs in summer, with several buds blooming on one cactus at once.
Gymnocalycium
Round cactus with long, twisted needles found in South America. Translated from Latin, the name succulent means "bare calyx". This name is associated with flower tubes, the surface of which does not have bristles or hairs characteristic of other types of cacti.
Depending on the variety, hymnocalyciums reach from 2.5 to 30 cm in diameter. They have a rounded or flat-spherical stem, covered with dense emerald-colored skin. Curved spines reach 1.5-3.8 cm in length.
Gymnocalycium blooms from May to November. The buds are located at the top of the stem. Lush peduncles have a bell-shaped shape and several rows of lacent petals. Buds reach 2-7 cm in diameter. Their color is red, purple or green.
Rebutia
This miniature cactus grows throughout the dry regions of South America. It has a slightly flattened, spherical trunk, the entire surface of which is covered with spiral tubercles. From the areoles emerge 5 central hard spines and many soft radial needles.
If you are looking for a flowering cactus, Rebutia is the best choice for you. This plant gives buds in the second year of life. Funnel-shaped peduncles, depending on the variety, are painted in light red, orange, purple and yellow tones. As a rule, all budsopen at the same time. After flowering, oval berries are formed on the stem, painted in pale green tones.
Mammillaria
This is the largest family in which there are 200 species of round cacti. They differ in the shape of the stem and the color of the buds, but at the same time they have common features - an unpretentious character and compact size. In addition, mammillaria bloom very well at home.
Of all the species of this numerous family, the following varieties are especially popular with flower growers:
- Mammillaria shoot-bearing with hair-like golden-white spines densely covering the stem. Blooms with small white buds.
- Mammillaria is excellent. Small round cactus, reaching 7-8 cm in diameter. Blooms with pink and red buds.
- Mammillaria Ghana. Cactus with a spherical stem, reaching 10 cm in diameter. The spines are white, soft, resembling hairs. Blooms with pink buds.
- Mammillaria Zeilman. Differs in a short cylindrical stalk and dense curved thorns. The buds are bright pink or white.
Plants of this species need minimal care, which includes occasional watering and top dressing in the spring-summer season. They prefer brightly lit places and temperatures between +20…+25 °C.
Astrophytum
In its natural environment, Astrophytum grows in dry and hot regions of Mexico and Texas. Translated from Greek, the name of this small round cactus means "star plant". And thisthe name suits the culture. After all, it is a star with 7–8 rays that resembles a plant, if you look at it from above.
The main feature of a large round cactus is the presence of light felt specks on the stem that can absorb water. But some varieties of Astrophytum also have large, strongly curved spines. Plants of this species grow slowly, but bloom very well. Buds appear on them in early spring and remain until late autumn. As a rule, the petals are yellow with a reddish throat. Peduncles are attached to the top of the stem and after blooming they last 2-3 days, and then fade.
Now that you know what popular varieties of round cacti look like and are called, you can easily pick up a prickly pet for yourself. And although most species are unpretentious, nevertheless, before buying, ask about the rules for growing a particular succulent.
