Ferocactus gracilis H. E. Gates 1933
Baja fire barrel, fire barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, biznaga colorada
This species is found only in Baja California, Mexico. A subspecies, Ferocactus gracilis ssp. gatesii, is found only on islands in the mouth of Bahia de los Angelas in the Gulf of California near the southern tip of Baja California.
Plants: Plants are singular, globe-shaped or cylindrical, up to 5′ (1.5 m) high and 12″ (30 cm) in diameter. The spine groups are a little complicated. Each group consists of a set of small white radial spines, nearly flat against the cactus, emanating like spokes on a wheel from the areole. Above this are larger, more haphazardly oriented central spines. The central spines are reddish with yellow tips, dominated by four large spines up to 2½″ (7 cm) long, at right angles to each other. 3-9 smaller central spines are also present. The central spines are an angry red color, flattened, often curved near the tips, and minutely ridged.
Flowers: Funnel-shaped, with a purple-red midvein and red, yellow to white margins, 1½ ⨉ 1¼″ (4 ⨉ 3.5 cm).
Fruits: Yellow, elongated, about ⅞″ (2.5 cm) long, with round, black, shiny seeds ~1/16″ (1.7–2 mm) long and 1.1-1.3 mm wide.
Habitats: Rocky hillsides, outwash fans, silt flats, and gravelly plains.
Central and radial spines in Ferocactus gracilis. 
Online References:
References:
5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona · ≈ 1 × 1′ (35 × 33 cm) 
This is the subspecies, Ferocactus gracilis ssp. coloratus. · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California 
2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Caryophyllidae | Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts |
| Order | Caryophyllales | Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants |
| Family | Cactaceae | Succulent (water-storing) plants, often spiny |
| Genus | Ferocactus | From the Latin ferus, “fierce,” and cactus, referring to its heavy spines |
| Species | gracilis | See gracile above |
Ferocactus gracilis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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