Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus f. minor mostruosus cristatus cv. Scarascia Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Time by time a shoot begin to crest.
Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Echinocactus grusonii
Description: Echinocactus grusoniiSN|3345]]SN|3345]] var. setispinus f. minor mostruosus cristatus cv. Scarascia is a monstrous form usually seen grafted on stronger columnar cacti. The plant forms lots of tiny monstrous woolly heads, that time by time begin to crest. It forms easily large crowded clumps.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinocactus grusonii group
- Echinocactus grusonii Hildm.: It produces slowly growing barrel-shaped stem up to 90 cm (180 cm) in height and spread. The stem is pale green and heavily ribbed with very numerous areoles and golden yellow spines.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. albispinus Y.Itô: It looks just like a regular "Golden Barrel" but the spines are glassy-white instead of yellow.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. albispinus f. cristatus hort.: crested form with spines all white instead of yellow.
- Echinocactus grusonii f. cristatus hort.: This is a wavy crested form with golden-yellow spines. It can also get very big making a spectacular specimen.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. intermedius hort.: This plant differs from the common Golden Barrel Cactus for the spines that are stout but intermediate in length between the standard from and the short spined type "subinermis" (syn: brevispinus).
- Echinocactus grusonii var. intermedius f. cristatus hort.: Strong crested form with stout spines that are intermediate in length between the standard from and the short spined type "subinermis" (syn. brevispinus).
- Echinocactus grusonii var. intermedius f. variegatus hort.: Yellow and green, variegated plants with short, spines that are intermediate in length between the standard from and the short spined type "subinermis" (syn. brevispinus).
- Echinocactus grusonii var. intertextus Y.Itô: (a.k.a "Krauskopf" or "tortulispinus") This plant differs from the common Golden barrel cactus for the spines, that are yellowish-white, sparse, flattish, curved to almost crinkled backward and very irregular, 2 to 6 cm long.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. intertextus f. cristatus hort.: Crested form with characteristich curved spines, that are flattish, almost crinkled backward and very irregular.
- Echinocactus grusonii f. monstruosus cristatus hort.: Crested form of the mostrose cultivar covered by white wool with short yellow spines. The crests are quite unstable
- Echinocactus grusonii f. monstruosus hort.: Free offsetting small form covered by yellowhish-white wool with short yellow spines. The rib structure is not yet apparent, and they have pronounced tubercles making them look superficially like Mammillarias.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus f. minor cristatus hort.: This is the tiniest crested form. A dwarf form covered by touch friendly spines and looking quite dissimilar to the standard species.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus f. minor mostruosus cristatus cv. Scarascia: The plant forms lots of tiny monstrous wooly heads, that time by time begin to crest.
- Echinocactus grusonii f. setispinus hort.: This cultivar has very thin acicular spines, that become longer as the plant ages.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis Y.Itô: (a.k.a. "cv. TOGENASHI KINSHACHI", "inermis" or "brevispinus") This is very short spined mutantant. Except for the spines it is identical in shape and size to the standard species.
- Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis f. cristata hort.: This is the crested form of the short-spined Golden Barrel. This crest can also get very large
Cultivation and Propagation: It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is usually seen as a grafted plant but can grow on its own roots too.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough), with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -0° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!!
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.