Ferocactus wislizenii -- the Arizona Barrel Cactus

The picture above is a Ferocactus wisilzeni, also called the Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, and Southwestern Barrel Cactus. Here are a few of the species of Ferocactus:

• Ferocactus alamosanus
• Ferocactus chrysacanthus
• Ferocactus cylindraceus - California Barrel Cactus, Cliff Barrel, Compass Barrel, Compass Cactus, Desert Barrel, Golden-Spined Barrel, Spiny Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus diguetii
• Ferocactus echidne - Sonora Barrel, Coville's Barrel Cactus, Emory's Barrel Cactus, Traveler's Friend
• Ferocactus emoryi - Sonora Barrel, Coville's Barrel Cactus, Emory's Barrel Cactus, Traveler's Friend
• Ferocactus flavovirens
• Ferocactus fordii
• Ferocactus glaucescens
• Ferocactus gracilis - Fire Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus hamatacanthus - Mexican Fruit Cactus, Texas Barrel Cactus, Turk's-Head Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus herrerae - Twisted Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus histrix - Electrode Cactus
• Ferocactus horridus
• Ferocactus johnstonianus - Johnston's Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus latispinus
• Ferocactus macrodiscus
• Ferocactus peninsulae
• Ferocactus pilosus - Mexican Lime Cactus, Viznaga De Lima
• Ferocactus pottsi
• Ferocactus rectispinus - Long Spined Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus reppenhagenii
• Ferocactus robustus
• Ferocactus santa-maria - Santa-Maria Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus schwarzii - Schwarz's Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus stainesii
• Ferocactus townsendianus - Townsend Barrel Cactus
• Ferocactus viridescens - Coast Barrel Cactus, Keg Cactus, Green-stemmed Viznaga, San Diego Barrel Cactus, Sisal (unrelated to Sisal)
• Ferocactus wislizeni - Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus

We always heard the folklore tradition that you could keep from dying of thirst in the desert by cutting open a barrel cactus and squeezing out the water. Like many of these so-called traditions, this one is not only inaccurate but dangerous to believe. Don't try it. First of all, many of the Ferocactus are on the threatened or endangered species list. Second, they taste awful and I speak from personal experience, long before anyone thought about endangered species. Thirdly, as shown by an article in the Tucson Citizen by Jonathan DuHamel, Economic Geologist,

The Seri Indians sometimes used the Fishhook barrel (Ferocactus wislizeni) for emergency water. However, drinking the juice on an empty stomach often caused diarrhea, and some Seri report pain in their bones if they walk a long distance after drinking the juice. The Seri called the Coville barrel (Ferocactus emoryi), “barrel that kills” because eating the flesh of the cactus causes nausea, diarrhea, and temporary paralysis. Think you can tell the two apart?

If you go into the desert, take water, don't rely on cactus to quench your thirst and keep alive.