When the Smithsonian acquired the collection in 1896, Rose came along with it. After securing a botany degree, Rose moved to Washington in 1888 to work with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which managed the sprawling collection of dried plant specimens in the National Herbarium. The son of a Civil War casualty, Rose was fascinated by the flowers sprouting up around his family’s farm from a young age. Joseph Nelson Rose was born in Indiana in 1862. To celebrate National Cactus Day, learn more about how Rose and the museum’s cactus collection transformed our understanding of these prickly plants more than a century ago. ![]() “If you care about the history of botany and the history of collections, then you know that Rose is one of the most important collectors and foundational people for the National Herbarium,” Wurdack says. Many of these specimens and documents relate to Joseph Nelson Rose, the pioneering botanist who literally wrote the book on cacti. In addition to dried cactus specimens, the museum also maintains a large collection of historic artwork, including these cacti watercolor paintings by renowned botanical artist Mary Emily Eaton. “It's among the most important collections in the world,” says Kenneth Wurdack, one of the museum’s research botanists and associate curator of botany. The Botany Department also oversees a collection of historic photographs, notes and colorful cactus watercolors. But the museum’s collection contains much more than just barbed bits of dried cacti. Their bright flowers and fruit provide food for everything from insects and bats to iguanas and humans and larger cactuses provide safe haven for nesting birds.Ĭonsidering this staggering diversity and ecological importance, it’s no wonder why the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has assembled a treasure trove of cacti specimens. Wherever they are, cacti are vital cogs in their ecosystems. While many are adapted to survive in harsh deserts, some cacti reside in wet tropical environments. They come in all shapes and sizes, from ground-bound cushion-like plants to barrel-shaped giants that soar some fifty feet into the air. Cacti are found from the edge of the Canadian tundra to the tip of South America. But this simple definition undersells their remarkable diversity. Many of us think of cacti simply as bristly, parched plants that live in the desert. The world record holder grew to nearly double that, standing some 78 feet over the desert. (10 C.), but it will tolerate a day or so of light frost if the soil is dry.As the largest species of cactus in the United States, saguaro cactuses usually grow around 40 feet tall. If this cactus is going to be grown outdoors, be sure to keep an eye on temperatures when winter is near. Give it a good watering and let the soil become dry to the touch (stick your finger down into the soil) before watering again. On that note, if you are growing this cactus in a container, be sure it has drainage holes. chrysacanthus in porous cactus soil or gravel the point is to allow for the best possible drainage. For the best Ferocactus chrysacanthus care, keep in mind that while this cactus will take full sun, when the plant is young and its epidermis is still maturing, it would be best to keep it in a partial sun exposure so it doesn’t scald. So, that said, in order to grow this cactus, mimic Mother Nature and provide it with plenty of light, warmth, and well-draining porous soil. Of course, the other constants are plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. Although it seems like it could grow almost anywhere, it gravitates towards areas of poor soil that never get waterlogged. chrysacanthus runs the gamut between desert, hills, valleys, and coastal regions. The cactus blooms in summer with blossoms that are brownish yellow to orange and about an inch (2.5 cm.) long by 2 inches (5 cm.) across. As to the flower, it is rather insignificant. Chrysacanthus generally means golden flower, and this cactus does bloom, but in this case, it may be referring to the golden yellow spines. Its nomenclature, ‘Ferocactus,’ is derived from the Latin word ferox, meaning fierce, and the Greek word kaktos, meaning thistle. The cactus has between 13 to 22 ribs, all of which are armed with curved yellow spines that become grey in color as the plant matures. It has a dark green stem that isn’t possible to see in mature plants. It has a single rounded to cylindrical form. ![]() The descriptive term “barrel” is in reference to the shape of the plant, which is barrel shaped. It is a slow growing species that may eventually grow up to about a foot (31 cm.) across and up to 3 feet (91 cm.) tall. chrysacanthus is a type of barrel cactus.
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