Echinocactus

plant genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Echinocactus is a genus of cacti, commonly known as barrel cacti, native to Mexico. These plants are typically globular or cylindrical, growing up to about 60 cm (2 feet) high and 30 cm (1 foot) in diameter. They are distinguished by their numerous wavy ribs and elongated fruits. The golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is a popular ornamental, but it is endangered in the wild. Barrel cacti belong to the family Cactaceae, which comprises about 131 genera and 1,866 species, mostly found in the Americas. Cacti are adapted to arid environments and are characterized by succulent stems and spines, which are often modified leaves.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

barrel cactus
Echinocactus comprises six species native to Mexico. Plants are more or less globose, usually growing to about 60 cm (2 feet) high and about 30 cm (1 foot) in diameter. The genus is distinguished primarily by its numerous wavy ribs and elongated fruits. The golden…
Read More
Echinocactus comprises six species native to Mexico. Plants are more or less globose, usually growing to about 60 cm (2 feet) high and about 30 cm (1 foot) in diameter. The genus is distinguished primarily by its numerous wavy ribs and elongated fruits. The golden…
Read More